A Bay of Plenty paediatrician says his receipt of a prestigious Australasian award for services to rural medicine is a reflection of teamwork rather than individual accomplishment.
Consultant paediatrician John Malcolm will receive the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Rural and Remote Medal 2015 at a gala ceremony in Cairns, Australia, on Sunday. He says he is humbled by the award.
"I feel a bit embarrassed," Dr Malcolm said.
"There is a sense of pride of course but I do feel like there's still a lot of unfinished business. I suppose you can look at it as a compliment to work in progress."
Dr Malcolm - who has given 25 years' service through Bay of Plenty hospitals in both Rotorua and, for the last eight years, in Whakatane - said the award reflected collective achievement.