Vale to an outstanding advocate for rural and remote communities: Professor Dennis Pashen

*** This article was updated on 26 November***

Croakey was shocked and saddened to learn today of the passing of Professor Dennis Pashen, who retired last year after a career in medicine spanning more than 40 years, working in many places across Australia, most recently in lutruwita/Tasmania.

He is remembered as a passionate, courageous advocate for rural and remote communities and their rights to equitable access to healthcare, and for championing the role of Rural Generalists.

At Croakey, we also acknowledge his generosity over decades in contributing to policy debate and development, and for engaging with and supporting public interest journalism.

ABC News reports that Pashen’s body was recovered on 23 November after he had attempted to swim to a dinghy from South Bruny Island; a report is being prepared for the coroner.

We invite readers to post their recollections and stories in the comments section below.

The Croakey team were grateful in 2021 when Pashen encouraged and supported us in applying for a grant to do a journalism project on the west coast of lutruwita/Tasmania (the application was unsuccessful but we learnt a lot in the process).

See his article for Croakey in 2021: A Tasmanian devil of a problem: sounding a health alarm for rural and remote communities.

Below are statements by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, as well as links to other articles and reading.

Outstanding advocate

Statement by Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) mourns the loss of Prof Dennis Pashen, a founding member, distinguished former President and outstanding advocate for rural and remote healthcare training and delivery.

ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says as a founding member, and president of ACRRM (2007–2009), Prof Pashen was instrumental in shaping the College’s vision and success.

“Prof Pashen was a driving force in ACRRM’s establishment and leadership for many years,” Dr Halliday says.

“He was a dedicated Rural Generalist, and a fierce advocate and champion for remote medicine, community engagement, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.

“He was a huge presence in our sector and made enormous impact on health policy, health education and careers for many medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, researchers, Aboriginal health workers, physician assistants and paramedicine colleagues.”

As a Rural Generalist of nearly 50 years, Prof Pashen obtained advanced skills in obstetrics, a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Medicine from James Cook University. He contributed to research through numerous journal articles and conference proceedings.

Among his many achievements, he is a former president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania. He established and managed the North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice and was Director of Mt Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health.

He was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2001, and in 2022 was presented with the Rural Doctor of the Year Award in Tasmania.

ACRRM CEO Marita Cowie says Prof Pashen’s legacy is more than his professional achievements.

“Dennis was a wonderful friend and colleague. I’m proud to have known him and to have worked alongside him for many years.

“He hated bureaucracy (passionately!) and had a talent for cutting through to the heart of issues that really mattered. He was a kind and generous bloke with a wicked sense of humour. He loved life – especially when it involved family, friends, music, guitars, boats and dogs!

“He will be long remembered for the positive changes he brought to our profession and healthcare system, and the countless lives he touched.

“Our love and support are also with Dennis’ wife Vicki Sheedy, his daughter and extended family at this difficult time,” Ms Cowie says.

“Legend of the Bush”

Statement by Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Professor Dennis Pashen – rural generalist, Fellow of the RACGP, Fellow and past President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and former President of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia – passed away on 23 November 2023.

Following his graduation from the University of Queensland, Professor Pashen worked as a rural generalist in Ingham, Queensland, and across the state, including as Director of Medical Services for the South Burnett and Rural Darling Downs regions.

He was named a “Legend of the Bush” by the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland for meritorious service to rural medicine and rural communities.

Professor Pashen was also a medical educator and examiner and taught as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He was the founding Director of the internationally recognised Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MICRRH) at James Cook University for 13 years (now the Centre for Rural and Remote Health), remaining active in procedural medicine throughout that time.

A faculty, North Queensland sub-faculty, and committee member at the RACGP and founding member of ACCRM, he was a driving force behind the effort to gain formal recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine (RGM) as a specialist field within general practice.

Professor Pashen moved to Tasmania in the later stages of his career, retiring in 2022 after a 40-year career in rural general practice and medical education. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Sheedy, and daughter.

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said Professor Pashen was a true leader in rural health and advocacy.

“We would not be where we are in recognition for rural generalism without Dennis’ leadership or vision,” she said.

“He was a mentor, a fierce advocate, and a clinician who inspired more than one generation of general practitioners and rural generalists. He was also generous in sharing his time and ideas at all the rural conferences, and I’ll miss his perceptive vision for rural practice and how the medical professions can best serve our regional, rural, and remote communities.”

RACGP Vice President and Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements agreed.

“There were few people who could match Dennis’ gravitas, experience, or strategic insight into the role and importance of rural generalism for the health of rural and remote communities,” he said.

“He could connect the dots between clinical practice, academic research, and politics. He was a mentor and inspiration to many of the current leaders in rural health and rural advocacy, and I personally benefited immensely from his support and encouragement.

“We hope the recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine will become another marker of Dennis’ legacy as a true rural generalist and icon of the profession.”

A national public consultation on recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine is underway and closes on 12 December 2023.

Further reading

Sunday Tasmanian (26 November): Heartbreak at loss of rural health hero

ABC News (25 November): Tributes for well known doctor Dennis Pashen after swimming accident death on Bruny Island

Patron of the Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners

NewsGP: Vale Dennis Pashen

MJA Insight, 2014: Dennis Pashen: Staying rural

The passion and politics of rural medicine, AAP, 2022

In this 2022 article, ‘Iconic rural doctor receives Tasmanian Rural Doctor of the Year Award 2022’, Pashen was quoted:

“It should always be remembered that nothing has been given to rural communities or their health professionals that hasn’t involved a substantial fight on behalf of and by the communities themselves. I urge our future Rural Generalist doctors to be involved, to take the initiative, and to remember that repeating old failed solutions only leads to repetitive failure. The Rural Generalist movement is only the first step. Keep the journey going.”

See Croakey’s archive of articles on rural and remote health