Ten Fellows have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to health, research and innovation in the 2023 Order of Australia honours.
Professor Melissa Little AC FAHMS was appointed Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for eminent service to medical research through pioneering contributions to regenerative therapies for kidney disease, and to stem cell medicine. Professor Little is Chief Scientist and NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Four Fellows have been appointed as Officers (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
- Professor Warwick Anderson AO FAHMS (Hon) was recognised for distinguished service to health and medical research organisations, and to professional associations. Professor Anderson is Emeritus Professor at Monash University.
- Professor Clare Collins AO FAHMS was appointed for distinguished service to nutritional health and dietetics research and communication, and to scientific organisations. Professor Collins is Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle.
- Professor Mark Cook AO FAHMS was appointed for distinguished service to neurological medicine and research through contributions to the treatment of epilepsy. Professor Cook is Director, Clinical Neuroscience, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Sir John Eccles Chair of Medicine at The University of Melbourne.
- The late Professor George Patton AO FAHMS was appointed for distinguished service to psychiatry and developmental epidemiology, to youth health and wellbeing, and to mental health research. Professor Patton was an eminent Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychiatric Epidemiologist, who formerly was a director of the Centre for Adolescent Health at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Professor Patton passed away in late 2022.
Additionally, five Fellows were honoured as Members (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
- Emeritus Professor Stephen Duckett AM FASSA FAHMS was appointed for significant service to public health policy and management, and to tertiary education. Professor Duckett is Emeritus Professor of Health Policy at La Trobe University and Chair, Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.
- Professor Pat Dudgeon AM FAHMS was appointed for significant service to Indigenous mental health and wellbeing, and to education. Professor Dudgeon is Professor and Research Fellow, School of Indigenous Studies, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at The University of Western Australia.
- Professor Kiaran Kirk AM FAHMS was appointed for significant service to science education and research, and to professional organisations. Professor Kirk is Dean of The Australian National University‘s College of Science.
- Professor Gail Risbridger AM FAHMS was appointed for significant service to medical research and administration, and to education. Professor Risbridger is Professor and Head, Prostate Cancer Research Program, Department of Anatomy, at Monash University and Head and Group Leader, Prostate Cancer Research Program, Peter MacCallum Centre.
- Dr Norman Swan AM FAHMS was appointed for significant service to the broadcast media as a science and health commentator. Dr Swan is a broadcaster and journalist, Science and Health, at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Congratulations to all Fellows honoured this year for their tremendous contributions.