Anew board member has been appointed to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.


Dr Carrie-Anne McKenzie will serve until June 30 of next year.


Born in Darwin and a proud Indigenous woman, Dr McKenzie graduated from Flinders University in Adelaide with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.


Part of her medical training was undertaken in Mount Gambier several years ago and she has now returned to the Blue Lake city to work in a senior role with the university.


Flinders University published a profile on Dr McKenzie and it included the following remarks.


“Dr McKenzie’s path to medicine was unconventional, working as a veterinary nurse, an emergency department nurse, a registered nurse in the Royal Australian Air Force, a security guard and even as a DJ, before embarking on her medical studies,” stated the profile.


“A pivotal moment in Dr McKenzie’s career was her time as the sole doctor in an Aboriginal community outside Katherine.


“As Senior GP in the Katherine Hospital Emergency Department, she utilised her local knowledge and commitment to improving healthcare access to play a key role in establishing the Big River Region COVID outpatient response during the pandemic, ensuring vital information and services reached rural and remote areas and under-served populations.


“Currently based in Mount Gambier, Dr McKenzie serves in a multi-faceted role, supporting and guiding aspiring medical professionals.


“As Regional Director, Clinical Director Regional Training Hub and Clinical Educator, her expertise and experience are invaluable in helping medical students and junior doctors navigate the complexities of the medical system and ethical challenges they may encounter.”