Former Australian Medical Association boss Brian Owler will run for Labor in the Sydney seat of Bennelong at the next federal election.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on Tuesday confirmed Dr Owler had nominated to be the party's candidate following the withdrawal of Lyndal Howison.
The high-profile neurosurgeon and trauma specialist was elected president of the AMA in 2014. He was previously president of the AMA in NSW, where he led several campaigns to reduce preventable child deaths and injuries.
Bill Shorten has announced former AMA president Brian Owler as Labor's candidate for Bennelong. Source: AAP
Mr Shorten said Dr Owler was a respected doctor who had fought for Medicare during his tenure as head of the AMA.
"Mr Medicare is coming to Canberra to make sure that we put Medicare and health care right up the top," Mr Shorten said.
Bennelong is held by the Liberals' John Alexander, who retained the seat with a reduced margin after a by-election fight against Kristina Keneally last December.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and newly elected Liberal member for Bennelong John Alexander. Source: AAP
Dr Owler admitted the now-marginal seat would be hard to win but divisions within the coalition had motivated him to run.
"I think this nation is sick and tired of not having their opinions listened to," he told reporters.
"'I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that the people of Bennelong have a strong voice in Canberra."
Labor last held the seat between 2007 and 2010, when another high-profile candidate - Maxine McKew - unseated then-prime minister John Howard.
