May 2008

Peninsula psychiatrist top class

Peninsula Health’s Lucinda Smith has finished top of her class and won the coveted Maddison Medallion from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Dr Smith is a consultant psychiatrist at Frankston Hospital and the Spray Street Community Care Unit. 

She joined Peninsula Health as an intern and is the first Fellow of the College to complete all training with the Peninsula Health Psychiatric Services.

‘This prestigious award is given to a postgraduate trainee for the most outstanding performance in the College Fellowship training and exams,’ Peninsula Health Psychiatric Services Clinical Director Associate Professor Richard Newton said.

‘Dr Smith is a very talented psychiatrist and was selected for the award out of all trainees in Australia and New Zealand who completed their fellowship in 2007.’

The Maddison Medallion was established by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 1968 to recognise and encourage excellence in the study of psychiatry.

Throughout the five-year training program, Dr Smith conducted six-monthly rotations within different streams of the Peninsula Health Psychiatric Services and was supported by a specialist supervisor on each occasion. 

She credits her work as a registrar with Peninsula Health as being extremely valuable towards achieving her Fellowship.

‘It was a great opportunity to work in the different fields of psychiatry and gain helpful knowledge and advice. 

‘My supervisors, including Associate Professor Newton, have provided fantastic support throughout my Fellowship.’  

At the Community Care Unit, Dr Smith works with a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists and mental health nurses.

‘We see people with a very broad range of mental health problems and I enjoy the holistic approach we take in rehabilitation,’ she said.