Dr Sam wins at the Palliative Care Queensland Awards

Friday 30^th October saw IUIH GP, Dr Sam McClean, take home the Exemplary Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Award at the Palliative Care Queensland Summit and Awards Evening.

Held at Easts Leagues Club in Brisbane, the awards are a celebration of people and teams who exemplify excellence, leadership, innovation and compassion in palliative care. For Sam, the award was the culmination of a team effort that began 2.5 years ago, when the IUIH Palliative Care team was founded.

“I was very surprised and flattered to win the award, but it’s very much about the team,” says Sam. “It was an honour for us all to be recognised for what we’re doing and how far we’ve come in two-and-a-half years. I believe we provide a really valuable service – we’ve built some good relationships with families and the community. We’ve worked hard to break down barriers, so it’s good to be recognised.”

Alongside Sam, the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Team were also recognised as finalists for the award. Delivering in-home palliative care, the team supports Mob facing a life-limiting diagnosis by providing emotional, social and practical support alongside clinical services. Educating Community on what palliative care involves – that it doesn’t necessarily signify the end, but rather offers support with an illness that won’t be cured – is another element of their work. For Sam, the role is one she relishes.

“Combining general practice and palliative care is my dream job,” she says. “It makes it so much easier to get to know families when they’re in their own environment. I know it sounds very cliche, but you do feel like you make a difference – you can form a relationship and that changes the care they receive, because they develop trust and allow you to be part of their medical journey.”

For Sam’s team, the award is well-deserved recognition of a doctor who practices with care, empathy and commitment.

“The knowledge, experience and perspective Sam brings is invaluable,” says Palliative and End-of-Life Care Services Manager, Mel Te Whaiti.  “Through educating and supporting non-Indigenous clinicians working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, advocating for culturally safe care and sharing her expertise with mainstream providers, committees and panels, Sam continues to build understanding, challenge thinking and influence better care for our people, families and communities. We’re incredibly proud to have Sam as part of our team and to see her contribution recognised in this way.”