Indigenous health leaders, an immunisation expert, a drug discoverer and a pioneering genomicist are among the 31 new Fellows elected to join the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences this year.

The Academy welcomed the new Fellows in a ceremony at its Annual Meeting in Adelaide this morning (24 October).

Academy President Professor Louise Baur said new Fellows were elected by their peers through a competitive process, which recognised their significant and continuing contributions to health and medical sciences.

“Our new Fellows have a truly exceptional body of work, with each of them considered international leaders in their respective fields,” she said.

“Our Fellowship represents the breadth and diversity of Australia’s health and medical expertise, allowing us to draw on independent, expert and evidence-based advice to drive change and improve health for all.

“I’m deeply pleased to welcome three First Nations Fellows this year, Professors Dawn Bessarab, Raymond Lovett and James Ward. They have made incredible contributions to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to the broader health and medical sciences. First Nations people were the nation’s first scientists, and there is so much that can be learned from their wealth of knowledge and experience.

“This year we also welcome six Fellows who work in allied health, including leaders in clinical exercise physiology, social work, exercise oncology, physiotherapy and fall prevention, preoperative exercise and rehabilitation, and mental health.

“I’m also pleased to welcome two Fellows from industry, drug discoverer Dr Christopher Burns and clinical pharmacologist Adjunct Professor Craig Rayner.”

The 2024 new Academy Fellows are listed below, or click through the gallery to read their citations.

• Professor Scott Bell FAHMS, Translational Research Institute
• Professor Dawn Bessarab FAHMS, The University of Western Australia
• Professor Christopher Blyth FAHMS, The University of Western Australia/The Kids Research Institute Australia
• Professor Asha Bowen OAM FAHMS, Perth Children’s Hospital/The Kids Research Institute Australia
• Dr Christopher Burns FAHMS, Amplia Therapeutics Ltd
• Professor Patricia Davidson FAHMS, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Kim Delbaere FAHMS, Neuroscience Research Australia
• Professor Linda Denehy FAHMS, The University of Melbourne
• Professor Jane Fisher AO FAHMS, Monash University
• Professor Sharon Goldfeld AM FAHMS, Royal Children’s Hospital/Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Professor Justin Gooding FAA FTSE FAHMS, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Daniel Green FAHMS, The University of Western Australia
• Professor Elizabeth Hartland AM FAHMS, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
• Professor Vanessa Hayes FAHMS, The University of Sydney
• Professor Livia Hool FAHMS, The University of Western Australia

• Professor Paul James FAHMS, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Professor Raymond Lovett FAHMS, Australian National University
• Professor Deborah Lupton FASSA FAHMS, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Stuart MacGregor FAHMS, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
• Professor Raina MacIntyre FAHMS, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Robert Newton FAHMS, Edith Cowan University
• Professor Andreas Obermair FAHMS, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital/The University of Queensland
• Deakin Distinguished Professor Anna Peeters AM FAHMS, Deakin University
• Professor Sarath Ranganathan FAHMS, The University of Melbourne
• Adjunct Professor Craig Rayner FAHMS FTSE, Moderna
• Professor Julie Simpson FAHMS, The University of Melbourne
• Cojoint Professor Stephen Tong FAHMS, The University of Melbourne
• Professor James Ward FAHMS, The University of Queensland
• Professor Anthony Weiss AM FTSE FAHMS, The University of Sydney
• Professor James Whisstock FAHMS, Monash University
• Professor Steve Wilton AO FAHMS, Murdoch University

Media: AAHMS Head of Media and Communication Katie Rowney, [email protected] or P: 07 3102 7212 M: +61 (0) 419 787 551

Hi-res images of all new Fellows are available on request.