The president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians has survived the first attempt to prevent her from taking over the presidency next year, with members firmly voting down an EGM motion to oust her.

Dr Sharmila Chandran, a Melbourne renal physician, lost a vote of no confidence held by the college’s board back in August. 

She had been accused of adversarial and disruptive behaviour and contributing to a toxic culture at the board table that had triggered the early departure of directors.

But this morning, following a very public campaign, she won her first fight, with 5180 members (65%) versus 2806 (35%) voting against the resolution that would have forced her out.