Dr George Somers (GP)
- Name
- Dr George Somers
- Qualifications
- MBBS 1976
- FACRRM 1998
- Occupation
- General Practitioner (GP)
- Gender
- Male
- Languages Spoken
- Dutch
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Netherlandic
- Medical Specialties
- General Practice
- Phone
- 03 59684622
George was born in Holland, and brought up in Monbulk and Tecoma. His choice to study medicine was mentored and supported by Dr Elef Jorgensen, the original doctor of Belgrave. George graduated in Medicine in 1976, although he had already gained his bachelor of Medical Science in diabetes research the previous year. He trained at the Royal Hobart hospital for a couple of years before he took off 18 months to “do the overland trip” to Europe (as one did, in the late 70’s!) He studied Obstetrics at Kent and Canterbury Hospital when he got there, and gained his Diploma in Obstetrics when he returned home. When Dr Spud Murphy, the original doctor in ‘the Hills beyond Belgrave’ died in 1981, his widow Margaret asked George to continue the practice. Although George was completing his training as a Fellow in Community Medicine at Dandenong Hospital, he accepted the challenge. He has managed it ever since. He has always had a strong interest in research and education, particularly in rural health. He completed the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology at Newcastle University and started his Masters in Rural Health the following year. This was converted to a full-time PhD which he completed in 2005. His thesis was entitled: An approach to the understanding and measurement of medical students’ attitudes to a rural career. He has also always had a very strong interest in disaster medicine and community resilience. This originated during the Ash Wednesday bushfires, when he was a GP in Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook. When the Tsunami destroyed Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra, he volunteered and subsequently led medical relief teams to Aceh for the first 6 months of 2005. He took up a post teaching medical students in Bendigo Regional Clinical School (Monash University) in 2005. In order to further his teaching skills, he completed the Graduate Certificate in Health Professionals’ Education. Still with Monash University School of Rural Health, he transferred to the Gippsland Medical School in Churchill in 2008. There he set up the Clinical Skills program, particularly for the first year students, and was appointed an Associate Professor at Monash University. He continues to work at Monash in an honorary capacity, mainly in research. He now works part time at Emerald Medical Centre, but continues to manage the centre from the sidelines with the able support of a very competent and capable medical, nursing and administrative team.
- Affiliated Clinics
- Emerald Medical Centre
- Next Practice Prahran
Practice Locations
VIC
- Emerald Medical Centre
- Address
- 1 Murphys Way
Emerald VIC 3782
Australia
- Phone
- 03 5968 4622
- Fax
- 03 5968 5750
- Next Practice Prahran
- Address
- 100 Greville Street
Prahran VIC 3181
Australia
- Phone
- 03 9067 7400
