Message from Head of School

I am delighted to be writing my first newsletter as interim Head of the Melbourne Medical School. I’d like to thank you all for the warm welcome I have received coming into the role and for the many encouraging words of support during this period of transition. It is certainly a busy time as Geoff has left a very active teaching and research agenda for 2018 which continues to evolve. This has greatly assisted a smooth transition and helped shape the Melbourne Medical School’s Business Plan, which has just been submitted to Faculty as part of the annual planning process.

It is pleasing to report that the Mobile Learning Unit (MLU), a recent new initiative of the Melbourne Medical School, continues to go from strength to strength after a very successful launch in late 2017. Led by Professors Alistair and Colin Royse, the online continuing professional development unit has already launched two courses, has a third set to go live shortly, and at least a dozen others in various stages of development. The recently launched online course on the emerging area of Osteo-sarcopenia is profiled in this edition of the newsletter. Not only an interesting read, it provides food for thought on the type of material that you may not have previously considered suitable for successful conversion into an online format. Colin and Alistair are always interested in hearing about suggestions for new programs so I encourage you to get in contact with the MLU to discuss your ideas.

A further exciting development in the teaching space is the recent Federal Government budget announcement supporting the Melbourne Medical School’s proposal to launch a Doctor of Medicine (Rural) delivered wholly through our Rural Clinical School located in Shepparton. A new partnership will see a capped number of high-achieving rural students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Biomedicine at La Trobe University articulate into our Doctor of Medicine (Rural). Since my email to all staff in May outlining plans to date for implementation, a steering committee and various working parties have been established to engage with appropriate staff across the University to ensure the course commencement date of 2022 can be met. A community consultation in Shepparton is coming up shortly in July and Bachelor of Biomedicine entry requirements are being discussed with La Trobe. We are just awaiting final confirmation of the amount of funding the government will contribute to this initiative.

I never cease to be astonished by the breadth and depth of talent associated with the Melbourne Medical School, and this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List is no exception. I’d like to extend congratulations on behalf of the School to each of the following recipients who are associated with the Melbourne Medical School. It was also very pleasing to see a number of our alumni on the Honours List.

Melbourne Medical School Staff

AO (Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia)

Professor Rinaldo Bellomo AO. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For distinguished service to medicine, and to medical research, as a gastroenterologist, to innovative public health cancer screening programs, and as a mentor of young clinicians.

Professor Susan P Walker AO. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. For distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the disciplines of obstetrics and gynaecology, as an academic and clinician, and to professional organisations.

AM (Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia).

Dr Paul V Desmond AM. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For significant service to medicine in the field of gastroenterology as a senior clinician and researcher, and to professional associations.

Professor Robyn H Guymer AM. Department of Surgery/Centre for Eye Research Australia. For significant service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly age related macular degeneration as a clinician, academic and researcher.

OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia)

Dr Graeme A Pollock OAM. Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology). For service to medical research, particularly to corneal transplantation.

Mr Donald Moss OAM. Rural Clinical School (casual staff member). For service to medicine, particularly to urology.

Melbourne Medical School Honorary Appointees

AO (Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia)

Professor Frank J Vajda AO. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For distinguished service to medical education in the field of clinical pharmacology and the genetics of epilepsy, and to the promotion of humanitarian values.

Dr David C Pescod AO. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For distinguished service to medicine, and to Australia-Mongolia relations, particularly through the provision of surgical and anaesthetic care, and to health education and standards.

AM (Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia)

Dr Ian J Kronborg AM. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For significant service to medicine, particularly gastroenterology, and through innovative substance abuse treatment programs.

Professor Christine Faye McDonald AM. Department of Medicine and Radiology. For significant service to respiratory and sleep medicine as a clinician-researcher, administrator, and mentor, and to professional medical organisations.

Mrs Margaret Alicia Ruby Sahhar AM. Department of Paediatrics. For significant service to health education, particularly through genetic counselling, and to the community through professional health organisations.

OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia)

Professor Margaret R Zacharin OAM. Department of Paediatrics. For service to medicine, particularly to paediatric endocrinology.

The Melbourne Medical School was also well-represented in the recently announced National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) awards with the following successful outcomes:

Gustav Nossal award: Dr Amanda Gwee, Department of Paediatrics/Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Antibiotic use for newborns.

Elizabeth Blackburn Fellowship-biomedical: Professor Melissa Little, Department of Paediatrics/Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Genetic engineering of kidneys.

Practitioner Fellowship: Professor Stephen Tong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Therapeutics and diagnostics for pregnancy complications.

Career Development Fellowship-clinical: Associate Professor Adam Deane, Honorary in the Department of Medicine and Radiology. Patient care strategies in critical illness.

I extend sincerest congratulations to the above recipients on their success.

A further congratulatory note is extended to Judy Savige, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Department of Medicine, who is the 2018 recipient of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) College Medal. Another fine achievement by one of our colleagues.

Finally, I’d like to draw your attention to the inaugural Melbourne Medical School Reunion Weekend which commences on Friday 23rd November with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Medical Building for both past and present staff, as well as alumni and current students. Organised by the Faculty alumni team the program of activities provides a range of opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, former staff and students and I encourage you to save the date. Further information is available at: medicine.unimelb.edu.au/visit/reunion

I look forward to keeping you updated on new developments across the School in due course.

Mark Cook