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.
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 !