Fellowship ​

The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences elects the best and brightest minds in the field of medical and health sciences as Fellows.

Fellows are elected in recognition of their outstanding achievements and exceptional contributions to the sector. The Fellowship are acknowledged for their clinical, non-clinical, leadership, industry and research contributions.

Find Fellows of the AAHMS

To find Fellows of our Academy either use the search form below or download the full list of current Fellows here.

Name

Position

Level

Elected

State

Head of Clinical Translation
Clinical Translation Centre, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
2015
VIC

Professor Andrew Roberts is a world-leader in translational research into blood cancers. His laboratory work has discovered the function of key proteins in blood cells, and guided the development of new drugs to target BCL2. His clinical trial research has led to advances in therapy for patients undergoing donor stem cell transplants, and pioneered targeted therapies for incurable blood cancers. He champions health and medical science through service to NHMRC, as chair of the Cancer Council Victoria, as a director of a national clinical trials co-operative group and as a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Frazer Institute, University of Queensland
2015
QLD

Professor Roberts is a pharmacist who, during 40 years as a practitioner, academic, and NHMRC SPRF, has focussed on medical research. His outputs include: H-index of 48, 6 books, 480 papers/chapters; 105 invited international talks; >$38m grants from NHMRC, ARC etc. He has been an APSA President, ASCEPT Councillor, University Head of School, University Research Centre Director, Director/ Chair Education Board for Australian College of Pharmacy and Chairman of TGA’s Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (Pharm) Committee. He has received the highest awards by his professional organisations: APSA Medal; ASCEPT Michael Rand Medal and Fellowship of the Australian College of Pharmacy.

Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering / Deputy Dean, Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics
Flinders University
2015
SA

Bridging the divide between research and industry, Professor Karen Reynolds is considered as one of Australia’s leading researchers in biomedical engineering. She is motivated by her passion to make a practical difference, and uses her experience and expertise together with her wide network of industry and clinical contacts to bring together multiple stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to healthcare problems. Karen has provided exceptional leadership within the University, within the Profession, and within the Industry. She has also provided inspiration and motivation to her colleagues and peers and to generations of students across the tertiary and secondary sectors.

AM FASSA FAHMS
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Griffith University
2015
QLD

Professor Sheena Reilly has generated a substantial body of original research in childhood communication disorders and swallowing problems, as displayed by her publications and their impact on clinical practice in this discipline. Sheena’s Early Language in Victoria Study has rapidly become internationally significant in the evolution of language impairment. It’s the only specialist cohort study with population data from infancy through to the school years. Sheena’s strengths as a teacher, clinician and researcher, together with the close partnership between the University of Melbourne, the RCH and MCRI, enable her to play a key role in the integration of research into clinical practice.

Professor Emeritus
The University of Sydney
2015
NSW

Professor Refshauge is an outstanding musculoskeletal researcher, of high international standing. Her research in back and neck pain has changed practice among educators and clinicians. She developed new care models and stimulated vigorous international debate about neck manipulation. She is a highly sought after keynote speaker for prestigious international conferences, and contributor to book chapters, and best practice guidelines. Her visionary approach to health delivery has led to collaborations among leaders of education, government and health to further health research. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of researchers is recognized by three awards for exceptional mentorship.

Head, Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program; Head of Department, Cell and Molecular Therapies
The Centenary Institute
2015
NSW

Professor Rasko AO is an Australian pioneer in the application of adult stem cells and genetic therapy. He is a clinical haematologist, pathologist and scientist who has contributed to the understanding of stem cells and haemopoiesis, gene transfer technologies, oncogenesis, human aminoacidurias and non-coding RNAs. He serves on many committees including Chair, GTTAC – responsible for all Australian genetically-modified organisms – and Chair, Advisory Committee on Biologicals, TGA. He co-founded and is past-President (2003-5) of the Australasian Gene Therapy Society; Vice President, International Society for Cellular Therapy (2008-12). He has received national (RCPA, RACP, ASBMB) and international medical research awards.

AM FTSE FAHMS
Adjunct Professor, United States Studies Centre
The University of Sydney
2015
NSW

Dr Susan M Pond has a rare and remarkable combination of talents. Her deep understanding of medicine and biotechnology enables development of informed, substantiated and thoughtful scientific evidence. Her ability to work at intersections between fields enables delivery of multidisciplinary studies that achieve real impact. Her business and analytical skills have helps many individual firms survive and deliver innovative products and services. Her ability to facilitate constructive engagement between very different perspectives enables significant contribution to emerging fields and industries, and to new policy frameworks for rapidly changing national and global innovation systems.

Professorial Chair of Medicine
Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney
2015
NSW

Professor Carol Pollock has an international reputation, with over 240 publications (H index 47; Citation index 6688 since 2009); is recognised with a Vice Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research Supervision and as a ‘Distinguished Professor’ by the University of Sydney. She is consistently invited to deliver lectures nationally and internationally and was Scientific Chairman of the 2013 World Congress of Nephrology. Health leadership roles include inaugural Chair of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, immediate past Chair of the Clinical Excellence Commission (remaining as a director of both organisations) and current Chair of the Northern Sydney Local Health District Board.

Director, UQ Centre for Clinical Research
The University of Queensland
2015
QLD

Professor Paterson is an internationally renowned researcher, policymaker and advocate for medical research. Peer recognition and his leadership and commitment to advance research is evident given that he founded and chairs an international network of Infectious Diseases researchers who collaboratively perform clinical trials. He has mentored numerous junior researchers including winners of the Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award Medal and the Rolex Award for Enterprise. He has raised public understanding of medical research during media commitments and public lectures such as the 2013 Bancroft Oration. He advocates for medical research via his role as Chair of the Queensland Clinician Scientists Association.

Vice-Principal Director and Chief Scientist; Scientia Professor, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney; Cardiologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
The George Institute for Global Health
2014
NSW

Professor Anushka Patel’s research focus is on the development and evaluation of high-impact solutions to improve delivery of effective treatments to people with or at high risk of cardiovascular and related chronic conditions. With a conjoint professorial appointment at the University of Sydney, she is currently the Chief Scientist (global) of The George Institute for Global Health, a medical research institute with offices in Sydney, Beijing, New Delhi and Oxford, focused on discovering solutions for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injury. Prof Patel has a medical degree from the University of Sydney, a Master of Science degree from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of Sydney.

For her program of health services research, which includes an innovative technology based primary care ecosystem and “polypill”-based strategies for delivering essential preventive healthcare, Prof Patel has attracted over $40 million of funding from domestic and international sources.

Professor Patel’s current roles include invited authorship of a chapter on novel models of cardiovascular healthcare for the Disease Control Priorities Project (3rd ed), produced by the World Bank for policy makers, and membership of the selection panel member for the UK Health Systems Research Initiative, funded by DfID, Wellcome Trust, Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council. She is a member of the National Heart Foundation’s Research Committee and was formerly Chair of the Clinical Trials Council of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. In 2014, she chaired the Epidemiology & Prevention Stream for the 2014 World Congress of Cardiology. Professor Patel is a practicing cardiologist and in 2011 was named one of the 100 most influential people in Sydney by the Sydney Morning Herald.

About Fellowship with AAHMS

Our Fellows sit at the heart of everything we do. They represent Australia’s leading minds in health and medical sciences, having been recognised for their clinical, non-clinical, leadership, industry and research contributions.

To be considered for election to the Academy’s Fellowship, a candidate must show exceptional professional achievement in a field related to health and/or medicine.

Fellows contribute to the projects and activities of the Academy and must be willing to be active participants.

Successful Fellowship candidates will have shown:

  • Outstanding leadership in their field.
  • Significant and ongoing involvement with issues of health care, prevention of disease, education, research, and health services policy and delivery.

Candidates for Fellowship should meet the following criteria:

  • National and International recognition for excellence in health and medical science
  • Significant, sustained and ongoing contributions to advance health and medical science in Australia (relative to opportunity)
  • Contribution to the profession through leadership and mentorship
  • Raised public understanding and promoting health and medical science in the broader community

Download criteria for Fellowship

Each year, current Fellows of the Academy are invited to nominate up to four new candidates who meet the criteria and fulfil the required expectations.

To ensure the Academy has a representative and diverse membership, Fellows nominating two new candidates are asked to include only a maximum of one man, and Fellows nominating four new candidates are asked to include only a maximum of two men.

How to make a nomination

Fellows wishing to nominate a candidate for Fellowship should contact the secretariat by 24 November each year to confirm candidate eligibility and receive and instructions on how to submit the completed nomination documentation online. Nomination requests received past this deadline will not be considered in the current election round.

Fellows wishing to nominate a candidate for a Corresponding Fellowship should contact the secretariat for more information.

Secretariat contact details
Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07 3102 7220

Nomination guidelines for ordinary Fellowship

October 2023
Newly elected Fellows of 2023 are inducted at the Annual Meeting.

18 September 2023- 30 November 2023
Nominations are invited from existing Fellows until the closing date of 30 November.

December 2023
Nominations allocated to Selection Committees.

January – April 2024
Referees’ reports sought.

Early May 2024
Selection Committees meet to consider nominations and provide final recommendations to the Council.

Early-to-mid-July 2024
Council meets to finalise recommendations.

Late July 2024
Full Fellowship invited to comment on recommended new fellows.

August 2024
Election results are shared with proposers and candidates (under embargo).

October 2024
Newly elected Fellows of 2024 inducted at the Annual Meeting.

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