If you enjoy reading health blogs, look no further! This list of Top Australian GP Bloggers in 2015 contains some pretty amazing Family Medicine blogs with many new and upcoming writers.
In previous years I have listed the sites alphabetically, but this year I thought I’d categorise them as follows:
- Lifestyle tips
- Doctor’s diary & storytelling
- Medical education
- Patient information
- Healthcare, innovation and health politics
Each blog mention contains a brief description and/or quote taken from the ‘about’ section of that blog. Enjoy!
1. Lifestyle tips

‘Lean Green and Healthy.’ By Dr Lyndal Parker-Newlyn
Healthy eating, exercise and weight loss ideas, motivation and support. No scams or fads – just a sensible lifestyle approach. A great blog offering healthy tips, news, information and inspiration.
http://lean-green-and-healthy.blogspot.com.au
‘Eat move chill.’ By Dr Kevin Yong
On his blog Dr Yong shares ideas about healthy living: “It’s about getting back to basics and building a strong foundation of health. It’s about turning your good intentions into lasting change. It’s about you taking control and living a better life.” Very inspiring.
‘The healthy GP – Live intentionally, love relentlessly and enjoy your health.’ By Dr Jonathan Ramachenderan
Dr Ramachenderan and his family live in the country in Western Australia where he practices as a General Practitioner and anaesthetist. He has some excellent advice for men and dads.
“We are in the busy, child rearing season of life coupled with the beginning of my career and hence achieving a balance is important. I am passionate about men’s health, helping and communicating with other dads, building stronger relationships with our wives and becoming wiser, stronger and more insightful men.”
https://thehealthygp.wordpress.com
2. Doctor’s diary & storytelling

‘Armchair rants from Dr Deloony, musings on Medicine and Life.’ By Dr Claire Noonan
Dr Noonan is a country GP and freelance writer. “My interests, medical and otherwise include but are not limited to: humans, science, general practice, bariatric medicine and surgery, fiction, music, travel, food/nutrition, mental health, philosophy and kittens. I am VERY interested in kittens.” Personal and well-written posts.
https://drdeloony.wordpress.com
‘Medical history.’ By Dr Gillian
Dr. Gillian is a GP Obstetrician, writer, wannabe photographer. For those with an interest in medical history, her blog has a lot to offer:
“In this blog I combine my love of salacious celebrity gossip, medicine and history to give you all the dirt on Henry VIII’s sex life and how it might make his penis fall off.*”
*Not actually true
http://medicalhistory.blogspot.com.au
‘Ailene Chan.’ By Dr Ailene Chan
Dr Chan has worked in many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Asylum Seeker and Refugee health in Christmas Island and Nauru.
“Being a doctor means being a global citizen. I will share with you my travels, the people I meet and the things I’m learning in medicine and in life.” Beautiful blog!
‘DrJustinColeman – Medical writer, editor, blogger.’ By Dr Justin Coleman
Dr Justin Coleman is a well-known GP-writer who looks sceptically at health interventions where the evidence suggests they might not actually be worthwhile. This is part of his broader interest in the public health concept of equity – fair access to primary health care for everyone.
As he writes on his blog: Despite earnest intentions, he frequently breaks out into lighter reflections on GP practice, with its quirks and oddities – often discovering the oddest person in the room is him!
‘Genevieve’s anthology – Writings to amuse, teach, inspire and entertain.’ By Dr Genevieve Yates
The multi-talented Dr Yates is not only a freelance columnist and novel/play writer, but she also finds the time to play and teach violin and piano, sing, and play in two orchestras.
“This website features a collection of my writings. Here you will find links to and samples of my newspaper columns, novel, short stories, plays and creative medical educational material, plus the odd blog or two.”
‘Dr Charles – The blog musings of Dr Charles Alpren.’ By Dr Charles Alpren
Dr Alpren worked at (and blogged about!) the Ebola Treatment Centre in Sierra Leone. He is currently a locum GP who works all over Australia. He has an interest in children’s health, vaccinations and infectious disease, and is also interested in teaching and Public Health.
https://doctorcharles.wordpress.com
‘Jacquie Garton-Smith.’ By Dr Jacquie Garton-Smith
Working as a General Practitioner with a special interest in counselling and family medicine has given Dr Garton-Smith insight into relationships and communication as well as responses to life events:
“My experience is that we can often access our emotions, learn and better understand ourselves through fiction.”
Dr Garton-Smith was the Western Australian Winner of 2009 Medical Observer Short Story Competition for GPs. She is currently working on two novels.
‘KarenPriceBlog – Hippocrates meets Xanthippe.’ By Dr Karen Price
Miscellaneous topics and reblogged posts – often with thought-provoking commentary by Dr Price. Dr Price is Chair of the Women In General Practice Committee of the Victorian RACGP.
“I am active on Twitter and interested in technology as it relates to health. I am prone to an occasional rant so the picture of me with a thistle is probably appropriate. I welcome respectful debate as it contributes to the Science and Art of Medicine.”
‘Peak Health – Challenging the assumption that our health and our longevity will inevitably improve.’ By Dr George Crisp
Our health depends on a healthy environment, says Dr Crisp – who is passionate about our environment.
http://georgecrisp.blogspot.com.au
‘A fig page – Random thoughts from someone who loves Jesus.’ By Dr Joe Romeo
A spiritual blog by Dr Romeo, who is a full-time country GP, aspiring songwriter/ worship songwriter, father of 6 and follower of Jesus Christ.
3. Medical education

‘FOAM4GP – Free Open Access Meducation 4 General Practice.’ Various authors
Excellent and comprehensive collection of blog posts and podcasts by various rural and city GPs.
“This blog and podcast is for Australian General practitioners, training to be one or already working as one. We cover the whole range of our medical specialty and give you what you need to pass your exams and keep learning in your clinical practice.”
The blog was founded by Dr Rob Park, Dr Minh Le Cong, Dr Casey Parker, Dr Tim Leeuwenburg, Dr Jonathan Ramachenderan, Dr Melanie Considine and Dr Gerry Considine.
‘Bits & Bumps – Obstetrics and Gynaecology FOAM.’ By Dr Penny Wilson and Dr Marlene Pearce
Excellent podcasts including useful links to resources for anyone with an interest in obstetrics and gynaecology – produced by two passionate GPs from Western Australia and Queensland.
‘Michael Tam – Publications archive.’ By Dr Micheal Tam
Michael Tam is a Staff Specialist in General Practice at the Academic General Practice Unit in Fairfield Hospital, in Sydney. His blog is a collection of interesting research articles and interviews.
Dr Tam’s clinical interest is in comorbid substance use disorder and mental health disorders. His research interests are in the detection of at-risk drinking in the primary care setting, and in e-learning in medical education.
‘GreenGP – Reflections of a Rural GP.’ By Dr Melanie Considine
An interesting blog with lots of medical conference reports, tips for students and GP registrars – including how to use social media. Dr Considine is a board member of the SA/NT RACGP Faculty and the RACGP National Rural Faculty.
‘Broome Docs – Medical education blog for rural GPs.’ By Dr Casey Parker
Top blog intended to provide a single source of up-to-date educational material for country doctors.
“I hope this site can expand this brain pool of rural doctors – please feel free to leave comments on the cases and posts presented – we can all learn from one another – no matter how far we are from the really smart guys in the big centres.”
‘THE PHARM – Prehospital and retrieval medicine.’ By Dr Minh Le Cong
Dr Le Cong’s comprehensive blog is for the health professionals working in remote locations, outside a hospital, on aircraft, ambulances, in outposts who have to deal with emergencies and the unexpected.
“My focus is rural Australia but my journey will be international, hearing from folks in other countries and how they deal with out-of-hospital emergencies. Of course I am a flying doctor so there will be a healthy dose of aeromedicine.”
‘KI Doc – Kangaroo Island doctor blogging about Rural Medicine in Australia.’ By Dr Tim Leeuwenburg
Encouraged by emergency medicine and retrieval medicine blogs such as EmCrit, Resus.me, BroomeDocs and Prehospitalmed, Dr Leeuwenburg has embraced the #FOAMed paradigm: “Whilst the lifeinthefastlane emergency physicians have lead this in Australasia, I reckon #FOAMed has a lot to offer rural doctors.” Excellent blog.
‘Rural GP Education – Thoughts and experiences on the journey to enlightenment.’ By Dr Ewen McPhee
Dr McPhee is an experienced rural GP and educator in Central Queensland. On his blog he shares his thoughts and other interesting posts about healthcare and medical eduction.
https://ewenmcphee.wordpress.com
4. Patient information

‘Dr Ginni Mansberg.’ By Dr Ginni Mansberg
Ginni Mansberg is a well-known, celebrity doctor in Australia. She is a Sydney GP sidelining for Sunrise & Morning Show, various magazines, and is a self-proclaimed wannabe Masterchef and caffeine addict.
http://www.drginni.com.au/blog.html
‘Do It Yourself Health DIY Health), Healthy Living and Health Information from Dr Joe.’ By Dr Joe Kosterich
Dr Kosterich is a well-known GP, author, and keynote speaker. “Your well-being is the most important thing you have. My passion is empowering you to take charge of your own health through easy to understand steps enabling you to live well for longer.”
‘PartridgeGP – professional, comprehensive and empowering healthcare.’ By Dr Nick Tellis
This is a great example of a practice website with health tips and interesting newspaper articles and reblogged posts including comments by Dr Tellis. Dr Tellis is passionate about great quality General Practice and is enjoying beach-side practice after seven years in rural South Australia.
‘The Healthy Bear.’ By Dr George Forgan-Smith
Dr George Forgan-Smith is a GP and passionate gay doctor in Melbourne Australia: “I have a strong interest in male health, mental health and health promotion. I enjoy writing and teaching and I hope that this website may help to inspire other men to move towards health in all aspects of their life.”
5. Healthcare, innovation & health politics

‘The Influence of the Tricorder.’ By Dr Tim Senior
Dr Senior has an interest in Aboriginal health & medical education. Other themes he often writes about are environments that keep us well and social justice.
His blog is an amazing collection of various articles he has published over the years. “I write stuff. It ends up in various places on the web. This site keeps track by linking to it all from one place.”
http://iofthet.blogspot.com.au
‘Lean Medicine.’ By Dr Moyez Jiwa
A well-written and beautiful blog about solving healthcare problems with creativity, intuition and insight with lean and inexpensive innovations. Dr Jiwa is Professor of Health Innovation at Curtin University and a GP practicing in Western Australia. He is also the Editor in Chief of The Australasian Medical Journal.
‘Dr Thinus’ musings – This is Canberra calling.’ By Dr Thinus van Rensburg
“Canberra – we love it and, despite what the rest of Australia might think, it is not just about pollies and Public Servants. It has it’s ups and downs but this is our hometown and I hope readers enjoy my occasional posts.” Honest commentary on a variety of articles and reblogged posts by Dr Van Rensburg.
‘Doctor’s bag.’ By Dr Edwin Kruys
Health politics and e-health. I’m living in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, where I work as a GP. When I’m not working I spend time with my family or blog about healthcare, social media and e-health.
Many thanks Edwin. I am honoured to be on your list!
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You absolutely deserve to be on the list 🙂
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Thank you! I always enjoy your posts and already follow many of the others so know I am in great company! Am looking forward to checking out those I haven’t yet seen.
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Hi Ed, thank you so much for this list. Can I add my own new blog to the list as I am writing on health and wellbeing, from an evidence-based point of view.
Love you to subscribe. http://www.sophiescott.com.au/blog
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Nice blog 👍
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Thanks Edwin nice to see a few friends clients past and present in this group!!
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Reblogged this on Dr Thinus' musings.
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Thanks Edwin! I’d better go and write something ‘erudite’!
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Reblogged this on partridgegp and commented:
Very proud to make the list – but certainly bringing up the rear in such auspicious company!
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Reblogged this on Genevieve's anthology and commented:
If you’re looking for inspiration, amusement, opinion or information written by Aussie GPs, you are bound to find it in one of these great blogs… List complied by popular and prolific GP blogger Edwin Kruys found at http://doctorsbag.net
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Reblogged this on The healthy GP and commented:
Yes it has been a little while but rearing to start providing insights into being a father, husband, man and GP again soon
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Thank you Ed. I am honoured.
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Thanks Edwin, feeling a bit special this morning. Now, off to read and follow everyone else!!
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Hi Edwin,
Could you have a look at my medical blog when you have time, to see if you have any suggestions re getting it out to the professional audience. I don’t know who reads it, but suspect it is a lay audience. It’s at http://www.holistic-doc-pain-support.com/pain-blog.html
Thanks for any advice you can offer. e-mail is jim then a dash (not underscore) rose at bigpond.com
Jim
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Honoured to get a mention Edwyn. Thanks! Make sure you check you check out Carolyn Ee’s blog ‘the Healthy Doctor’ for your next list. (http://carolynee.net/)
Kev
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Reblogged this on FromSunKissedHands.
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