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Dr
Feelgood - Dr Sally Cockburn
Dr
Sally Cockburn, known in the media also as Dr Feelgood
is Australia's leading health communicator. She is
a graduate of Monash University Medical School and
has nearly twenty years clinical experience as a medical
practitioner. She also has over ten years as a media
presenter on TV , radio and in print.
As
a doctor she has extensive clinical and teaching experience
She worked in the public hospital sector for 6 years,
in surgery and emergency before focussing on a speciality
general practice career.
An
avid public speaker and writer, Sally’s media
career began in 1990 when one of her patients asked
her whether she might be part of a new radio show
she was producing. Because of medical board recommendations
she was not able to use her real name and so “Dr
Feelgood” was born ! Her weekly health segment
on the phenomenally successful 3AW breakfast program
,Lawyers Guns and Money continued for 2 years until,
believe it or not, another patient suggested an opportunity
for her own show, on another radio network!
From
1993, her 6 years as host of top rating national radio
talk back sex and relationships program "Pillowtalk"
on the Austereo Network gathered her a loyal following
all over Australia due to her down to earth, practical
advice on matters of the heart and body.
She
has also produced and hosted several radio specials
for Austereo and 3AW. “Real talk about Heroin”,
“the Study survival Guide” for HSC students
and most recently “The Truth about HRT”.
This latter program was put together in three days
in a response to the glut of confusing information
about HRT and its risks which hit the media in July
2002 . It drew unprecedented public interest.
Sally
has hosted her own national Saturday night TV talk
show with the Seven network in 1994 called “Dr
Feelgood” and presented a weekly medical segment
on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton on Channel
10 for nine years. In 2001 she wrote and hosted her
own TV series of 24 episodes called “Your Health
with Dr Feelgood” and she has made guest appearances
on many Australian TV shows including Beauty and the
Beast and Battle of the Sexes.
In
1996 she became one of the first media presenters
to host an Internet site being part of the launch
of MSN in Australia and has been active in online
activities ever since.
In
1994 Sally wrote her book “Dr Feelgood’s
thoughts on Sex and Relationships” which reached
the bestseller list. She has also written advice columns
and articles for many national magazines including
New Idea and New Woman.
She
has returned to 3AW and currently hosts her own talk
back radio program Life Essentials each Sunday evening
and also appears weekly as Medical Presenter on the
top rating Neil Mitchell radio program.
Throughout
this time she has remained in active part time General
Practice in suburban Melbourne. Her practice is busy
and diverse and keeps her in touch with issues facing
the public. She has a strong commitment to undergraduate
and postgraduateMedical Education. She has held a
post as Senior Lecturer at Monash University Medical
School where she taught communication skills to medical
students and was part of the team that devised the
communications curriculum for the medical school.
She has also taught at Melbourne University and currently
she is teaching medical students a course in Medical
journalism at Monash. She has been also a supervisor
for Post Graduate Specialty General Practice training.
She is currently teaching medical journalism to medical
students.
Sally
is also a consultant to Parks Victoria in the development
of their Healthy Parks Healthy People Initiative.
This project won the coveted 2002 Banskia Foundation
communication award and the 2001 Marketing Industry
of Australia State Public Sector Award for Marketing
Excellence.
She
has been the recipient of an MBF award for excellence
in Health Journalism for Radio in 1996 and the Radio
Industry's prestigious "Raward" for Best
Australian Radio Documentary in 1999.
Sally
is currently ranked amongst the top corporate speakers
in Australia through the Saxton Speakers Agency.
As
well as media and active General Practice she is also
active in community affairs and charities – Sally
is the immediate past Chairman of the Variety Club
of Victoria, a current committee member of Interplast
and the Thomaiy Breast Cancer foundation. She is also
a member of Monash Medical Faculty Foundation and
Chair of the community relations and Alumni committee.
She has served as a member of the Committee of Management
of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ambulance Service
for 6 years, and was also part of the 20 member Victorian
State Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women’s
Health. She has recently accepted the position of
Chair of the National Communication Strategy Project
Committee for Organ Donation.
In
2002 she has been appointed to the Patron’s Council
of the Royal District Nursing Service and as a patron
of the Southern Mental Health Association .She has
been awarded Arthritis Victoria’s prestigious
Lorin Prentice Award for outstanding contribution
in raising public awareness of musculoskeletal disease.
In
December 2001 she was appointed an Australia Day Ambassador
by the Victorian Premier. She was one of 100 prominent
Victorians who represented our State in promoting
festivities on our National Day on January 26 2002
.
Sally’s
aim is to debunk jargon, demystify medical matters
and help people understand their body. She’s
not afraid to tackle the delicate issues and approaches
these with sensitivity and humour. Ignorance breeds
fear and everyone deserves answers.
Sally
works to improve communication on both ends of the
stethoscope ! (Credit:
Dr Feelgood)
Website
Dr
Feelgood official website
Profiles
Relationships
Mind,
Body and Spirit
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