Ruth McNair

Dr Ruth McNair has obtained Diplomas of obstetrics and gynaecology, and anaesthetics (in the UK), and has a Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She completed a PhD in lesbian and bisexual women's health in 2009. She has clinical interests in women’s health including lesbian and bisexual women’s health, trans health, mental health and wellbeing, adolescent health, fertility and pregnancy care, and is accredited as an antenatal shared care provider.

Ruth has worked as a GP since 1993 in Bacchus Marsh, Melton, the Northern Territory, the Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy and Deer Park Women's Prison. She worked at Carlton Clinic from 1998 to 2009.

In 2009 Ruth helped to establish Northside Clinic in Melbourne's inner north, a medical clinic which specialises in providing quality medical care in a safe and friendly environment for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and HIV positive communities.[1]

Ruth is an Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne, teaching and conducting LGBTI Communities research.

McNair is active in LGBTI policy and community development, including roles as member and chairperson on each of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committees on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Health and Wellbeing since 2000. Ruth is the current co-chair of the Health & Human Services Working Group, a working group of the Victorian Government's LGBTI Taskforce.

To commemorate International Women's Day each year, the Victorian government induct 25 inspirational Victorian women into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. Dr McNair was inducted in 2017.[2] She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her "significant service to medicine, and as an advocate for the LGBTIQ community".[3]