Dr. George Romano Santoro, the President-elect, was born in Melbourne, the son of a doctor in private practice in Collins Street. He was educated at Xavier College, Kew, and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated M.B., B.S. in 1962. Dr. Santoro, who did his intern year at the Queen Victoria Hospital, was in general practice in Richmond from 1965 until his retirement. He is married with two teenage sons.
Dr. Santoro has had a long-time association with the Italian Community in Victoria. He acted as medical officer for the Italian shipping lines and airline, and he is the official medical officer appointed by the Italian Consul General in Victoria. His services to people of Italian origin were recognised in 1977 when he received the award of Cavaliere of the Italian Republic and Star of Solidarity from the Italian Government.
Dr. Santoro joined the Victorian Branch of the Australian Medical Association in 1963. He joined the Branch Council in 1975 as a representative of the general body of members. In his first years on Branch Council, he made very significant contributions to the work of the Health Centres Sub-committees and the Ad Hoc Committee on the A.M.A. Health Benefits Fund. In 1977 he was elected Treasurer of the Branch, a position he held with distinction until 1981. He was President-Elect in 1982 and succeeded to the Presidency of the Branch in 1983. In addition, he has been a member of the Victorian Delegation to the Federal Assembly of the Association every year since 1976.
Dr. Santoro has always actively involved himself in the affairs of the Branch. He is a Director of the Medical Society Trust Company, serves as Honorary Treasurer of the Victorian Medical Benevolent Association and represents the Branch as a member of the Hospital Benefits Association, the Board of the Victorian Academy for General Practice and the A.M.A./Motor Accidents Board Joint Adjudication Committee. His great interest in local communities of different ethnic origins led him, during his presidential year, to encourage the formation of Chinese, Greek and Italian Medical Societies as sections of the Branch.
Dr. Santoro has always made membership recruitment and extension of services to members a major interest. He has made significant contributions to these projects, both at Federal Assembly and within the State of Victoria. During the course of his presidential year, George Santoro visited every major country centre in Victoria, addressing the medical communities and explaining A.M.A. policies through the provincial media. This alone was a remarkable achievement. The Victorian Branch in particular, and the Association in general, owe him a debt of gratitude for his enthusiasm and energy expended in their service. He is certainly worthy of admission to the Roll of Fellows of the Australian Medical Association.
Last updated 31 March 2025.
Sources: Branch News November 1982; AMA awards notice.