Early Career Doctor Advisory Council

Dr. Manjinder Kaur Brom is nearing the end of her emergency medicine training having recently completed her fellowship examinations. She is the current Doctor-in-Training, Medical Adviser at Avant, and Chair of the ECDAC.

Manjinder completed a Bachelor of Medical Science in Healthcare Ethics and Law in the UK. She retains a keen interest in medico-legal concepts and medical ethics for emergency clinicians. She recently completed a medical education special skills term at Gold Coast University Hospital and is an Honorary Adjunct Senior Teaching Fellow at Bond University. 

Her professional interests include medical education and simulation, patient safety, quality improvement and clinician performance. She hopes to go on and build a career in medical administration. Manjinder has also enjoyed exploring prehospital and event medicine including working in the muddy fields for Splendour in the Grass and visiting the Solomon Islands for private repatriations. She is excited for her upcoming stint with LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine in Brisbane.

As a member of the ECDAC, Manjinder aims to ensure the group reflects the diversity and concerns of the ECD cohort, effectively represents member issues, and enhances member engagement with the committee. As the Chair, she is committed to maintaining accountability for the committee's initiatives and wants to ensure all committee members keep in regular contact highlighting key emerging issues state and Australia wide.

Outside of her professional life, she is passionate about caring for her Samoyed dog, Lily, and managing a fur-free home despite her busy schedule.

Dr. Alexander Ashenden is currently at the PGY 3 stage of his medical career, serving as a GPT1 Registrar. He has a clear set of professional ambitions, including completing GPT1 and GPT2 at a civilian practice, continuing his GP training while serving in the Royal Australian Navy, and maintaining his ongoing work with Avant.

Additionally, Alexander is passionate about developing a medtech startup, completing the AICD course, and eventually opening a veteran clinic that focuses on holistic care. He also aims to complete a Masters of Lifestyle Medicine at James Cook University.

As a member of the ECDAC, Alexander is dedicated to providing feedback on issues facing early career doctors, particularly those in Western Australia. He seeks to expand his responsibilities by collaborating with the chair on areas within Avant that would benefit early career doctors.

Outside of his professional life, Alexander has a range of interests and passions. He values family time and is deeply committed to veteran care. He is also interested in agentic AI, practice ownership, startups and entrepreneurship. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf.

Dr. Gaik Si Quah is currently a Breast Surgeons of Australia & New Zealand post fellowship training surgical fellow with a strong commitment to advancing in the field of breast oncoplastic surgery. Her professional ambitions include becoming a fully qualified breast oncoplastic surgeon, creating a better structure for unaccredited surgical registrars to gain entry into specialist training programs, and improving access to surgical services in disadvantaged communities.

As a member of the ECDAC, Gaik aims to advocate for junior doctors in training, highlighting the issues faced by trainees during their training. She is dedicated to providing support for unaccredited registrars, particularly those in surgical fields, who are among the least junior doctors in the workforce.

In her personal time, Gaik enjoys running, mountain biking, snorkelling and reading.

Dr. Reece Adler is a PGY7 emergency advanced trainee with a dedication to becoming an excellent emergency doctor. He is passionate about educating and assisting his colleagues through challenging experiences and processes, and contributing to a collegiate and supportive workplace environment.

As a member of the ECDAC, Reece aims to faithfully relay the perspectives of doctors in training to Avant, benefiting both parties. He believes that Avant and junior doctors are crucial to each other. By better understanding the doctors’ needs Avant can offer better value to junior doctors and throughout their careers. Reece notes that many junior doctors are unaware of Avant's value, particularly its scale, dominance as an MDO, and the broader value proposition of the Avant mutual group.

In his personal life, Reece enjoys cycling and is learning how to be a dad.

Dr. James Kemper is a level 3 obstetrics and gynaecology registrar with aspirations to become a generalist obstetrician and gynaecologist. He aims to balance public and private practice while focusing on teaching junior medical staff and medical students. James has a particular interest in laparoscopic and robotic gynaecology alongside his obstetric practice.

As a member of the ECDAC, James seeks to improve communication among junior medical staff across specialties and locations, enhance their influence on Avant's direction, priorities and feedback, and ensure junior medical staff recognise the value of being Avant members.

In his personal life, James enjoys hiking and spending time in nature, taking walks with his German Shepherd and gardening.

Dr. Jasmine Davis is a resident medical officer (PGY2) at Bundaberg Hospital, Queensland Health. She is currently exploring career paths in general practice, public health, or medical administration.

As a member of the ECDAC, Jasmine aims to ensure Avant meets the needs of junior doctors, particularly prevocational doctors. She is also eager to engage more with professional opportunities in the medico-legal and medical ethics space.

Jasmine is passionate about health advocacy and public health prevention, having completed a Master of Public Health and serving on the AMA Federal Council and Public Health Committee. She is also deeply interested in research and medical ethics, working in VAD research and sitting on the AMA Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee. Outside of medicine, Jasmine enjoys spending time at the beach, reading, traveling, doing yoga, and watching drag shows.

Dr. Maryaan Kas is a dedicated PGY3 doctor currently working as a locum with plans to start general practitioner (GP) training next year. With a focus on women and children’s health, Maryaan aims to build long-term relationships with her patients, addressing not just symptoms, but the physical, mental and spiritual factors that shape overall wellbeing.

Maryaan's professional ambitions include delivering holistic care that empowers families through knowledge and supports healthier lifestyle choices. She is committed to advocating for better working conditions for doctors through roles such as the Early Career Doctor Advisory Council (ECDAC) and hopes to continue in medical education through teaching and mentorship.

As a member of the ECDAC, Maryaan is passionate about promoting a healthcare system that supports early career doctors in their clinical development and personal wellbeing. She aims to help shape policies that foster wellbeing, reduce burnout and support early career doctors in building rewarding and balanced medical careers.

Outside of her professional life, Maryaan enjoys reading and writing, staying active through kickboxing, weightlifting and tennis, and travelling to experience new cultures. She is also committed to teaching and mentorship, sharing her knowledge to help others grow and succeed.

Dr. Yael Lefkovits is a medical oncology advanced trainee who aims to combine clinical oncology with research, public health, and policy. Yael is particularly interested in using data and precision medicine to improve cancer outcomes while addressing broader systemic issues in healthcare. Long-term, she hopes to contribute to both individual patient care and meaningful, large-scale change.

As a member of the Early Career Doctor Advisory Council, Yael wants to help create better support for early-career doctors exploring various pathways, including research, public health, education, and clinical leadership. She is especially interested in making non-traditional career journeys more visible and supported, helping doctors feel confident navigating the uncertainties of the early stages of their careers.

Currently, Yael is undertaking a Master's in Precision Cancer Medicine through the University of Oxford. She is passionate about improving the quality and effectiveness of oncology care as the field moves towards a more personalised, immunotherapeutic-based approach to treatment. In her spare time, she works as a freelance health journalist and enjoys spending time with her husband and child.

Dr. Angelica Ronquillo is a basic paediatric registrar in Queensland, having recently completed the RACP Clinical Examination. Since graduating with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Queensland in 2018, she has trained across the Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Southeast Queensland regions. She currently holds dual roles as a medical education registrar at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and an academic registrar at the University of Queensland/RBWH Clinical School.

Angelica aims to complete her training in general paediatrics, with a special interest in developmental paediatrics. She aspires to balance clinical practice with ongoing involvement in medical education. Angelica is committed to developing as a leader and advocate within the medical field, with the aim of building strong foundations for future opportunities in medical administration.

As an ECDAC member, Angelica hopes to represent pre-vocational junior doctors and paediatric trainees, aiding their transition from training to specialist practice. She is passionate about advocating for financial literacy, combating burnout and supporting practical solutions for international medical students and doctors.

Outside medicine, Angelica enjoys hiking, building LEGO structures, musical theatre and spoken word poetry. These creative activities bring balance to her life and fuel her passion for storytelling, innovation and connection—values she integrates into her professional life.

Dr. Jemma Hogan is a doctor specialising in both medical administration (RACMA) and paediatric medicine (RACP). She is currently working as General Manager for Medical Workforce and Education at St John of God Health Care. She also works clinically as a paediatric advanced trainee. 

Jemma previously worked as the medical administration registrar at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals, as an advanced trainee in general paediatrics at Bunbury Regional Hospital, and as a public health registrar on the statewide COVID-19 response at the WA Department of Health. 

She also works as an adjunct clinical lecturer at Curtin University, providing lectures on paediatric topics to medical students and facilitating clinical skills sessions. In 2019, she completed her dual Masters in Health Management/Masters in Public Health (with Excellence) through UNSW.

She has interests in medical leadership, doctors’ welfare, medical education and workforce planning.

Dr. John Ward is a PGY6 emergency registrar currently in ACEM Training Stage 3. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biomedical Science from the University of Queensland (UQ). He has a Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership (Medical Leadership) from UQ, completed the End-of-Life Law for Clinicians course at QUT, and is pursuing a Diploma in Football Medicine from FIFA.

John's professional ambitions include completing his ACEM training by 2028, undertaking a Motorsport Medicine Fellowship at Indiana University around 2029-2030, and developing a special interest in ultrasound and pre-hospital medicine. He plans to take a locum gap year in 2026 to complete a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments at the University of Tasmania, and gain experience in healthcare across regional and remote areas of Australia and New Zealand.

As a member of the ECDAC, John aims to build on the council’s excellent work, improve access to free medico-legal information for the medical community, and advocate for trainees' rights at both state and national levels, focusing on issues such as pay disputes and workplace rights. He also looks forward to networking with like-minded trainees and Avant members from diverse backgrounds.

John's interests and passions include motorsport, particularly Formula 1 and the Supercars Championship, coffee brewing methods like home espresso, V60 and Aeropress, the role of AI in medicine, and pre-hospital and adventure/expedition medicine.

Dr. Tali Feiglin is a GP registrar (PGY8) currently working part-time clinically and part-time as an academic GP registrar. In her academic role, she facilitates medical student education and researches GPs’ attitudes towards cervical screening self-collection. Additionally, Tali is a board observer through The Observership Program for a not-for-profit aged care provider in Sydney.

Tali's professional ambitions include providing excellent primary care with a particular focus on women’s health and preventative health, improving the health of the wider population through non-clinical roles, and enhancing doctors’ wellbeing.

As a member of the ECDAC, Tali aims to connect with a diverse group of doctors in training to share knowledge, insights, and skills from their experiences across different regions and specialties. She advocates for the professional needs of junior doctors, including those in training, prevocational doctors, and during the transition to fellowship. Tali also seeks to provide insights that can guide Avant in meeting the needs of colleagues, not only through medical defence, but also through education and other services to improve the experience of being a doctor in training.

Her interests and passions include women’s health, preventative health and exploring non-clinical roles that utilise medical knowledge and skills.