Medical defence specialists

Medical defence specialists

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  Hallie Barron

  Clinical Risk Coordinator, MIGA

  Hallie has provided risk management services to Queensland doctors and practice managers for the past 11 years.

  She delivers education to MIGA clients, practice managers, and medical practices based on MIGA claims experience. Hallie conducts practice reviews in QLD to help identify policy, procedural and medico-legal issues that give rise to claims and complaints and provides advice on strategies for minimising risk.

  Hallie’s extensive experience prior to her risk management role was in the QLD hospital and health sector.

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  Timothy Bowen

  Senior Solicitor – Advocacy, Claims and Education, MIGA

  Timothy focuses on MIGA’s industry advocacy, engaging with governments, regulators, colleges and other associations on various medico-legal and other health industry issues.

  For many years, Tim has specialised in acting for health professionals and health care institutions in malpractice, disciplinary and coronial matters, and continues to look after MIGA’s members in medico-legal matters.

  Tim is a regular presenter and publisher of articles to medical and legal audiences on medico-legal issues, an editorial board member of the Australian Health Law Bulletin, a member of both the NSW Law Society medico-legal liaison committee and the NSW Coroner’s Court medico-legal users’ group, and is a casual academic in medical law at Western Sydney University.

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  Nihal D’Cruz

  Underwriting and Risk Education Manager, MIGA

  Prior to MIGA, Nihal held senior underwriting, risk management and claims roles at Invivo Medical, Primary Health Care Ltd and Allianz.

  Nihal has considerable experience in insurance and risk management in the Australian healthcare industry. He holds a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters in Insurance and Risk Management.

  Nihal is a qualified CIP and senior associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He has also previously sat on the advisory panel for the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

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  Marie-Clare Elder

  Senior Solicitor – Claims & Legal Services, MIGA

  Marie-Clare is a legal practitioner who has specialised in health, medical negligence and personal injury litigation in Australia and the United Kingdom for the last 13 years. A former clinical nurse specialist in intensive care, she also brings to the role a wealth of healthcare knowledge and first-hand healthcare experience.

  In the United Kingdom, Marie-Clare acted as general counsel for a large NHS Trust where she frequently represented the trust at inquests and Court of Protection hearings. She worked closely with the risk department and assisted with serious incident investigations and sat on the trust’s Ethics Committee.

  In her role at MIGA, Marie-Clare heads up MIGA’s legal department in Sydney and is responsible for the provision of general legal advice and the management of litigated claims, coronial inquests, disciplinary and employment matters. Marie-Clare and her team support, guide and work with our clients to assist them through what is commonly unfamiliar legal territory and at times emotionally difficult and trying circumstances.

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  Megan Sheldon

  Senior Business Development Advisor, MIGA

  Megan has worked within the Australian medical indemnity industry for the past 11 years, looking after doctors and medical practices in South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Canberra. Megan has spent the past 10 years working with members of MDA National and more recently, has joined the MIGA team as a senior business development advisor in Western Australia. Her previous business experience includes over 15 years working in the fields of workers rehabilitation, compensation and occupational health and safety. Megan has specialised in providing medical practices with advice on practice indemnity and healthcare insurance options.

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  Gareth Thomas

  Clinical Risk Coordinator, MIGA

  Gareth has worked for the past 17 years in clinical risk management in the public health and insurance industries in both Australia and New Zealand. His current role includes the development, management, facilitation and delivery of clinical risk management education to doctors, eligible midwives, and practice staff across Australia, through MIGA’s Risk Management Program as well as ad hoc education and a series of sessions for practice managers. He also visits practices and meets with doctors with identifiable issues that can increase the chances of claims and complaints and develops strategies to help mitigate those risks.

  Prior to joining MIGA in 2010, he worked predominantly in women’s and children’s health in both Adelaide, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand.