Surrey Hills-based general practitioner Dr Abhishek Kumar Verma has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his outstanding service to medicine, medical education, and healthcare administration in Australia.
The honours list announced by the Governor-General, recognises 948 Australians across the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards, and conspicuous service awards. All recipients are nominated by the public and assessed by the independent Council for the Order of Australia before final approval by the Governor-General.
This year’s list includes 702 recipients in the General Division, comprising 5 Companion (AC), 40 Officer (AO), 183 Member (AM), and 474 Medal (OAM) honours, alongside 34 military awards, 149 meritorious awards, and 63 conspicuous service awards.
Dr Verma was recognised for his significant contributions to Australian healthcare through a combination of clinical practice, medical governance, and medical education. He graduated in medicine from the University of New South Wales in 2008, where he received several academic distinctions, including the RANZCO Ophthalmology Medal and scholarships from the Australian Cancer Council and NSW Rural Doctors Network.
He later completed a Master of Surgery at the University of Sydney in 2014 and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) in 2016.
In his clinical work, Dr Verma has developed expertise in general practice, with special interests in minor procedures, mental health, chronic disease care, women’s health—including antenatal care, cervical screening, and contraceptive procedures—and child and adolescent health.
Alongside his clinical practice, he is actively involved in medical education, mentoring students and training doctors, and serving as an examiner for RACGP Fellowship examinations. He also contributes to assessment and training frameworks within general practice.
Dr Verma holds several leadership and governance roles, including membership of the Victorian Medical Board under AHPRA and chairing registration and specialist committees focused on clinical standards, cosmetic practice, and professional conduct. He also serves on hospital boards in Victoria and contributes to health insurance governance as a director of Peoplecare Health Insurance.
He is actively engaged with the RACGP through various councils and committees, supporting the maintenance of professional standards in general practice.
His academic work includes publications in leading medical journals such as the Medical Journal of Australia, the ANZ Journal of Surgery, and the Journal of Ophthalmology, as well as contributions to medical education resources.
In 2022, Dr Verma was named both Victorian General Practitioner of the Year and Australian General Practitioner of the Year in recognition of his clinical excellence and leadership.
Outside medicine, he is described as a family-oriented professional who enjoys time with his wife and two daughters, as well as cricket and cooking.
The 2026 King’s Birthday Honours celebrate Australians who have made significant contributions across medicine, science, education, public service, and community life.