Dr Roland Ark was born in Burma in 1959 and educated at St. Patrick High School before continuing his studies at the Institute of Medicine II in Rangoon. After obtaining his first medical degree in 1985, he worked as a solo General Practitioner in Moulmein.

In search of new opportunities, Roland migrated with his family to Australia in 1991 where he enrolled at the Sydney Institute of Technology obtaining an Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Biological Techniques). He worked in many local pathology laboratories until 1999 when he was selected and invited to join the Medical School, University of Tasmania, graduating with honours in 2001.

With general practice firmly in his sights, Roland completed his intern training and continued to work at North West Regional Hospital, Burnie, Tasmania. He began consulting from Wynyard Doctors Service as a GP Registrar in 2004 and achieved his Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in 2005 and has continued to consult from the practice since then. 

Roland’s passion for continuing professional development and nurturing of young doctors has seen him involved in supporting general practice in a variety of ways. He is an ex-member of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Tasmania Faculty Board, panel member of Fitness for Intended Clinical Practice Interview (FICPI) and Pre Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI). In addition, he is an ex-member of the Vocational Training Accreditation Subcommittee (VTASC),  an ex-director, and ex-vice chair of General Practice North West Tasmania.

Roland received a Certificate of Acknowledgement as Friend of the Faculty at Collegial Dinner on 27 March 2010 in recognition of his valued and continued support of the RACGP Tasmania Faculty.

Roland has worked with GPTT till 2012 as a site surveyor for General Practice Accreditation for Trainer and Training Posts for GP registrar training and a Hospital GP Liaison Officer. It involved visiting to North West Regional and Mersey Community Hospitals to meet GP registrars who are working and receiving training in hospitals for their hospital terms and assists the development of learning plans and general needs.

Roland is a practice owner, principal, and acting manager of Wynyard Medical Centre. He is passionate in teaching GP Registrars, International Medical Graduates (IMGs), Medical Students from the Rural Clinical School (UTas) and the University of Queensland, John Flynn Scholars, and Nursing Students.

On a personal note, Roland enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, singing, listening to music. and watching movies.