Omar Khorshid : Former AMA WA president honoured alongside Tony Bartone for leadership in COVID crisis

A former Australian Medical Association WA president has been awarded the peak body’s highest honour for his leadership during the COVID crisis. Omar Khorshid, who was the AMA WA president before becoming the Australia-wide leader in 2020, was the joint winner of the 2025 AMA Gold Medal. The Perth orthopaedic surgeon was recognised for remaining calm during the pandemic, while still being a fierce advocate for the community and the profession. Dr Khorshid guided the vaccine rollout and ensured GPs played a central role, which helped Australia to have one of the highest rates of vaccine uptake in the world. He launched several campaigns during his two-year tenure including the Modernise Medicare drive, which helped secure a $970 investment from the Labor government in the 2022 federal election. Dr Khorshid also launched the AMA’s first Vision for Australia’s Health in 2021, charting a course forward for the country’s health system as well as advocating for issues relating to private health. “It was a great privilege to lead the AMA team during the pandemic. We worked incredibly hard together with AMA staff, state and territory AMAs, Federal Council and many external experts, despite the challenges of lockdowns and closed borders,” Dr Khorshid said. “We had a substantial and direct impact on public policy in many areas — on behalf of doctors and the community. “I hope this award is a reminder of how much can be achieved when we work together as an AMA family.” Dr Khorshid won alongside former AMA president Tony Bartone, who also led the doctors’ peak body through the pandemic. AMA President Danielle McMullen said the pair led the profession through the worst health crisis Australia had faced in 100 years. “Tony and Omar were both unflappable in the face of uncertainty, and we hope this award goes some way in recognising their exceptional service to the medical profession and the entire community during those difficult times,” she said.