Regional Medical Director, WA Country Health Service; Australia

Dr Allan Pelkowitz obtained his medical degree in South Africa, lived the first half of his professional life in New Zealand and moved with his family to Australia 17 years ago. In New Zealand Dr Pelkowitz worked as a GP before accepting clinical management roles, helping to set up improvement projects in cardiovascular disease and endoscopy as well as streamlining GP interactions with hospital outpatients. One of these projects, reducing unnecessary gastroscopies, won the NZ Quality in Healthcare Award in 2003. Dr Pelkowitz is currently Regional Medical Director for WACHS Midwest, a region spanning over 200,000 square kilometres. His current projects include outpatient redesign and he is the WACHS medical lead for Digital Innovation.