Dr Catherine Stewart of Russell Street Medical Centre was named GP Synergy supervisor of the year for the Western NSW region at a ceremony in Dubbo last week while Sonya Sewell from Loxley House Family Practice was recognised as the GP Synergy practice manager of the year.

Dr Stewart has been a general practitioner in Bathurst for 20 years and seven years ago became accredited to supervise doctors training to specialise as GPs.

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"I have been heavily involved in training GP registrars since my own time as a registrar in Bathurst and Orange," Dr Stewart said.

"I've been involved in assessing registrars as a visiting GP in most of the practices in Bathurst, Orange and Lithgow as well as further afield to Forbes, Parkes, Cowra and Broken Hill.

"When the main supervisor in our practice, Dr Geoff Chew, left about seven years ago it was the perfect opportunity to take on the role of GP supervisor to our registrars.

"My motto in teaching is 'I'll teach you what is not in the textbook'. Conversely, the registrars update me on what is in the textbook - although now it's more likely to be the online guidelines."

Dr Stewart said she enjoyed seeing a registrar transition from hospital to general practice.

"It is particularly gratifying when a GP registrar stays and works in the region and even moreso in our practice as our relationship then changes to that of colleagues," she said.

Ms Sewell has been a practice manager for 16 years, during that time making an impression on the many doctors who have undertaken their training to become specialist GPs at the practice.

"It's a pleasure having the trainee GPs at the practice. We're always excited by the fresh perspective that registrars bring, not only in terms of medicine but also culturally," she said.

"Guiding and supporting the GP registrars provides our GPs with an opportunity to give back to their profession.

"The registrars also play an important role in providing patient care to our patients that can't be addressed just by our permanent workforce."