Dr Kerry Whannel

MBChB, FRACGP, AdvDip Emergency (ACEM)

Dr Kerry Whannel is a Glasgow-born doctor who graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2000. She began her career on a surgical training pathway, gaining more than ten years of experience across multiple disciplines and developing a particular interest in breast disease.

She emigrated to South Australia in 2011, starting a new chapter in Emergency Medicine before transitioning into General Practice in 2014. Dr Whannel attained Fellowship of the RACGP in 2018 and continued advancing her emergency skills, completing the Advanced Diploma in Emergency Medicine in 2023.

Throughout her career, Dr Whannel has navigated several turning points — including raising three children under the age of three — which prompted her to reflect on both her career direction and preferred location of practice. She embraces change for the opportunities it brings, and as a result has developed a diverse and unique skillset that she applies every day as a GP.

Dr Whannel believes that the role of a GP is both distinctive and deeply valuable. In a world where many titles exist — doctor, practitioner, specialist — she is proud to be among the roughly 32,000 GPs in Australia who provide community-based, longitudinal and comprehensive medical care. She delivers true “womb to tomb” healthcare: whole-person, whole-family, top-to-toe care. When patients require expertise beyond her scope, she collaborates closely with colleagues to ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care, while continuing to act as a trusted guide through more complex health journeys.

Her key areas of interest include breast disease, adolescent health and wellbeing, neurodivergent health, and skin cancer medicine. Dr Whannel takes a holistic, whole-person and whole-family approach to care.

She currently works across general practice and skin cancer medicine, and she also maintains her emergency skills through FIFO work in regional emergency departments in Queensland.