Strategic Optimism: Communication, Trust and Prevention with Dr Michael Bonning

S 7 E 4 I am delighted to welcome Dr Michael Bonning to the podcast.

 Dr Bonning is a Sydney GP, with two decades of leadership across the AMA, AMSA, the RACGP and doctors' health. His clinical career has included Indigenous health, a career as a medical officer in the Royal Australian Navy, general practice ownership and management and COVID responses. He has made doctors' health a career-long focus, including as an inaugural director of the National Doctors' Health Service, six years on the board of Beyond Blue and as a director of hand n hand peer support. Michael is now running for Federal President of the AMA, on a platform to protect the value of doctors and the undermining of expertise, the importance of Medicare as a true safety net, the need to protect clinical independence and give doctors one clear, unified voice.

In this episode, we talk about:

•       Michael's two decades of leadership across the AMA, AMSA and RACGP, and his campaign for Federal AMA President

•       Communicating under pressure in healthcare from the media spotlight to earning public trust

•       The fight against mis- and disinformation in healthcare

•       Public health and prevention the upstream social and commercial determinants of health, and the core pillars of prevention.

• Doctors' Health Advocacy as a strategic imperative not nice to have, optional extra.

Key Takeaways — Communicating with Media:

•       Prepare - know your material before you say yes to an interview

•       Find out what matters - understand what the journalist or audience actually needs

•       Be measured, and ground your conversation in the science and the evidence

•       Phone a friend - check in with a trusted colleague before high-stakes media

•       Determine if you're the best person to give the advice

•       Don't become the story - keep the focus on the issue, not on yourself

Thank you Michael your skilled and purpose driven leadership and support for your colleagues and patients and our healthcare system at large is the consistent thread running through this conversation. 

Links:

Michael's LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/michaelbonning

Creative Careers in Medicine Conference 2026 (CCIM), Gold Coast QT, 4–5 September: https://events.humanitix.com/ccim2026

The Mind Full Medic Podcast is proudly sponsored by the MBA NSW-ACT Find out more about the charitable organisation supporting doctors and their families and/ or donate today at www.mbansw.org.au

Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Moreover views expressed here are our own and do not  necessarily reflect those of  our employers or other official organisations.