We honour the memory of our alumni, Grantley Alexander Ward, Professor Rinaldo Bellomo AO and Emeritus Professor Glenn Bowes AO. We reflect on the remarkable individuals they were, celebrating the meaningful lives they lived and the invaluable contributions they made through their work.
Dr Grantley Alexander Ward
1995–2025
On behalf of the Melbourne Medical School, we are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Grantley Alexander Ward.
Grantley was a remarkable student during his time at the University of Melbourne where he undertook a Bachelor in Biomedicine before graduating from the Austin Clinical School in 2019. Grantley also spent a year of his training in our clinical school at Wangaratta.
Grantley was thoughtful, hardworking, and deeply committed to the values of good medicine. He stood out not only for his academic ability, but for his humility, quiet strength, and compassion for others.
As a young doctor, he carried these same qualities into his clinical practice, earning the respect and affection of colleagues and patients alike. Though his life and career were tragically cut short, his impact on our community will not be forgotten.
We remember Grantley with great admiration and deep sorrow. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and all who grieve this immense loss. He will be missed, and he will be remembered.
Professor Rinaldo Bellomo AO
By Ary Serpa Neto and Paul Young
It is with deep sorrow that the Department of Critical Care announces the passing of Professor Rinaldo Bellomo AO.
Rinaldo was a Professor of Intensive Care Medicine in the Department of Critical Care at the University of Melbourne, Honorary Fellow at the Florey, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Monash University, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of NSW, and Honorary Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney.
Over the last thirty-five years, Rinaldo became one of the world’s leading intensive care medicine researchers and thinkers. At the time of his death, he had the remarkable SCOPUS statistics of 1,845 publications, 150,000 citations, and a h-index of 165. Much of this was with extensive national and international collaborations notably through the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, where he was the founding Chair.
Rinaldo was passionate about supporting early and mid-career researchers both within and beyond Australia. He was a supervisor, mentor, and sponsor to his many Graduate Researchers and innumerable emerging researchers in both clinical and discovery science.
Rinaldo was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 for distinguished service to intensive care medicine as a biomedical scientist and researcher, through infrastructure and systems development to manage the critically ill, and as an author.
As a person, Rinaldo had endless energy and enthusiasm for new ideas and determination to implement sound evidence. He had a great sense of humour and all who knew him would recall references to Machiavelli or Dante, which were part of his contribution to his final meeting of the Department of Critical Care Executive. He was an opinion leader who many would turn to, including hospital leaders. Often “What does Rinaldo think?” was heard for a critical decision requiring sound judgement.
Rinaldo was a highly regarded clinician at the Austin Hospital, where he worked for many years until his death. More recently, he also worked at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. His work has and will continue to improve the outcomes for millions of critically ill patients worldwide.
The Department of Critical Care extends their condolences to Rinaldo's family, particularly his wife Debbie and daughter Hilary, and his friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Professor Rinaldo Bellomo's Memorial
Ary Serpa Neto, Paul Young, In memory of Professor Rinaldo Bellomo: A giant of intensive care medicine, Critical Care and Resuscitation, Volume 27, Issue 2, 2025, doi.org/10.1016/j.ccrj.2025.100110.
Emeritus Professor Glenn Bowes AO
2 November 1948 – 16 January 2025
A Pioneering Leader and Mentor
The Faculty and Melbourne Medical School pays tribute to Professor Glenn Bowes AO, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, whose pioneering work, generosity of spirit, visionary leadership and profound commitment to improving lives left an indelible mark on the University, his friends and colleagues and especially on his patients and their families.
Glenn graduated with an MBBS and PhD from Monash University and completed postdoctoral training in respiratory medicine at the University of Toronto. He made pioneering contributions at the Alfred Hospital. He also established Australia's first adult cystic fibrosis program, he also established the Lung Transplant program. Both initiatives were ground-breaking at the time. Glenn was then recruited to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne where he founded the nation's first academic program in youth health as the inaugural Professor of Adolescent Health.
Over 16 years at the Royal Children's Hospital, Glenn held pivotal roles including Chief Medical Officer, Executive Director, University of Melbourne Stevenson Chair of Paediatrics and Head of the Department of Paediatrics. His innovative leadership transformed adolescent health nationally. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Melbourne Children’s Campus. Within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Glenn served as Associate Dean for Engagement, and then Deputy Dean, and, fittingly, upon retiring in 2019, the University appointed Glenn as an Emeritus Professor.
At Melbourne, Glenn's impact extended far beyond his formal roles as a mentor across the University and its partners. His leadership was guided by an unwavering commitment to moral clarity – asking "what is the right thing to do?" His integrity was an ever-present guidepost.
Glenn was one of the Faculty's most significant allies for Indigenous development this century. He worked hand-in-glove with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders over decades, leveraging his institutional knowledge and influence to drive meaningful partnership and change. Glenn deeply understood his responsibility as an ally; taking Indigenous advocacy as an obligation and seeing the transformative potential of genuine collaboration.
This moral clarity framed all considerations and was grounded in a recognition of the University's colonial history and need for reparative measures. Glenn was a seminal mentor to the Faculty's Aboriginal staff and leaders, including as Chair of the Poche Centre's Advisory Board. His legacy is that of an ally who advanced Indigenous development through true partnership and listening.
Glenn’s commitment to supporting and mentoring others extended to every aspect of his career. As Head of the Respiratory Medicine at Alfred, he would always work to ensure students were included in his staff catchups, such was his determination to help others grow. He gathered and nurtured others, encouraging them to find places far beyond their imagined boundaries and to shine anywhere they could and should, making a positive difference in this world. He was trusting, empowered others and had the ability to inspire the best in people.
In his role as Deputy Dean, Glenn provided strategic leadership across advancement, engagement, alumni, and international activities. Chairing key committees, he stewarded the Faculty's charitable trusts and global strategy. Under Glenn's leadership, the Faculty raised over $300 million through philanthropy – a testament to his ability to connect donors with researchers and teams driving critical advancements in health and wellbeing. Glenn played a pivotal role in facilitating the extraordinary gifts from Pamela Galli AO to establish collaborative research chairs and programs across the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct exemplifying his impact in this area. This work was made possible by his strategic guidance and steadfast commitment to multidisciplinary approaches that extended far beyond his medical background.
Beyond his medical career, Glenn generously served the community through board roles with organisations including Mentone Grammar, Lord Somers Camp, Very Special Kids, Anglicare and youth services.
An innovative leader, generous mentor and deeply caring human being, Glenn's vision, integrity and commitment to empowering youth will leave a legacy. The University celebrates his incredible spirit and impact on generations of young lives.
We extend our deepest condolences to Glenn’s wife and faculty member, Professor Jo Douglass, his children William, Sarah, Charlie, Matthew and Julia, his wider family and many friends and colleagues who will miss him greatly.