GP Nic Giummarra has been named vice president of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians Australian Chapter (SCCAC).
In the role, Dr Giummarra will work with president Dr Joel Wren and the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA) on a number of issues including cannabis education for health professionals and a code of conduct.
SCCAC has recently been instrumental in launching TEACH-hub – Training and Education About Cannabis in Healthcare – in collaboration with AMCA and United in Compassion (UIC).
Dr Giummarra takes on the role having worked for many years as a family doctor before turning his focus to medicinal cannabis where he has overseen treatment plans for hundreds of patients.
He started his own clinic, MCGP, in 2021, but will next month merge with Dr James Stewart’s Herbal Clinics.
“We’re really keen to set the standard in the industry for good patient care,” Dr Giummarra said.
He is a candidate for his second Fellowship of Advanced Rural General Practice, where he maintains his broad medical skills by working in GP and hospital settings in remote areas of the country.
Dr Giummarra is a believer in the use of high-quality CBD dominant formulations with THC used “sparingly and appropriately”.
In a statement announcing his appointment, AMCA said: “Nic believes in co-operation and collaboration from everyone involved, from the growers and manufacturers, to the pharmacies and of course doctors, who have a perennial obligation to uphold the highest standards for our patients, and also the wider profession.
“We are very pleased to have him and look forward to working with him on health professional education, advocacy and on issues such as a code of conduct.”
Meanwhile, Reason Party leader Fiona Patten and conjoint professor Nicholas Lintzeris have been formally elected as new AMCA board members.
They join chair Lucy Haslam, Mills Oakley partner Dr Teresa Nicoletti, ANTG chief scientific officer Justin Sinclair, research scientist Emily Rigby, associate professor Marc Russo, Austranna chief executive Bryan Ebstyne and federal education officer with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Jodie Davis on the board.
