Dr Natalie Burch was named the inaugural Tasmanian Rural Doctor of the Year on Saturday for service "above and beyond the call" at an official dinner of the Tasmanian Rural Health Conference in Hobart.

In a statement, Dr Eve Merfield, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania, said the continuity of care Dr Burch had provided the community was "nothing short of amazing", along with "exceptional service" as an educator in the field.

"Natalie is an incredibly deserving recipient of our inaugural award," Dr Eve Merfield said.

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Dr Burch was grateful for the "touching" recognition, which she said made her feel the work she did was valued after a difficult year.

"It celebrates the small stuff that rural doctors do with individual patients and small rural communities," she added. "Working in a rural community is about responsibility and belonging."

"I have felt very responsible for this community over the years and this has driven me to work very hard to keep the services going, sometimes to my own detriment.

"Recently when I was unwell, however, there were several instances of my patients looking after me. I think that's what it is all about."

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