"I was floored by the notification that I was being honoured for something I loved."
These are the words of Dr Judith Carmen Lynch after learning that she would receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her service to medicine and, in particular, anaesthesiology.
Dr Lynch from Alpine said she was humbled by the recognition.
"It's easy to do a job well when you love it and are surrounded by other quality professionals," she said
Dr Lynch trained as an anaesthetist at the Prince of Wales Hospital about 30 years ago. She also worked at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
For the past 20 years her skills have been predominantly focused in the Southern Highlands Private Hospital.
However, it is her work overseas since 1991, with Open Heart International, that has made her truly stand out from the crowd.
Dr Lynch has volunteered her skills to assist with cardiac, uterine, and club foot surgeries in Nepal, Tonga and Fiji as part of Open Heart International.
She said she was inspired by the dedicated work of other volunteers to become involved in the program.
"It is fascinating to work overseas and help provide a little more training for people in those countries," she said.
It is clear that Dr Lynch loves her chosen career path and the opportunity to make a difference through her work.
It is this that she looks upon as possibly her greatest reward.
She said that as an anaesthetist she had gained broad medical knowledge and connection within the profession.
"This has enabled me to work in several teaching and smaller hospitals where I have had the opportunity to help others," she said.
"It is a wonderful career, challenging, technically interesting and you get to deal with wonderful people."
Dr Lynch also revels in the opportunity to help people with their respective medical treatments at all stages.
"It is a career that requires knowledge of treatment from start to finish including pain relief and how to successfully come out of surgery," she said.
However, she is quick to add that her career achievements are only possible because of the other wonderful professionals around her.
"It is easier to do well at something when you are surrounded by quality professionals such as the general practitioners, specialists, physiotherapists and pharmacists," she said.
"The staff at the private hospital are superb."
Dr Lynch's commitment to her profession and colleagues is extensive.
In addition to her voluntary work overseas she has been involved in various other organisations within her profession.
These include deputy chair and the Medical Advisory Committee since 2017 and committee member of the Medical Advisory Committee since 2010.
She was also an honorary secretary of the Committee of Management, Australian Society of Anaesthetists in 2003; a member of the State Committee investigating deaths under anaesthesia from 2002-2007; and assistant honorary secretary of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists Committee Management from 1995-1997.
She has previously been awarded with a Fellow Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 1994; and a George Davidson Medal for Anaesthesia at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, in 1993.