Dr Carolyn Cooper is one of Australia’s longest-serving emergency medicine physicians delivering excellence in patient care.
Carolyn was among a small group of dedicated doctors who developed the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, having identified the need for experienced medical personnel to lead this critical care area.
Her doctoral thesis on end-of-life planning identified the need for general practitioners and aged and palliative care staff to have essential conversations with patients and families.
At Austin Hospital, Carolyn initiated a medical-nursing model supporting a local aged care facility to better manage residents in house. This relieved pressure on unnecessary and anxiety-inducing presentations at the hospital’s emergency department.
As the director for emergency medicine at Warrnambool Base Hospital, Carolyn’s expertise with a team of recruited emergency physicians enabled the hospital to achieve accreditation for its emergency department. Her relentless work means this regional community is provided with a higher standard of emergency medical care.