Professor Allen Cheng sits atop the health and medical honourees' tree, with immune and sleep experts also recognised.
Infectious diseases specialist and research, Professor Allen Cheng has been named Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours, the highest possible honour available.
He is the only medical name to receive an AC in this year’s awards.
He was cited “for eminent service to medicine as an epidemiologist, to infectious and communicable disease research and education, and to national and international public health policy”.
It’s probably not surprising that Professor Cheng’s proudest career moments are wrapped up in Australia’s covid experience.
For most Australians, their first and possibly only knowledge of Professor Cheng was his quiet calm at press conferences during Victoria’s lockdowns through 2020, when he was seconded to the role of deputy chief health officer of the state in 2020-2021.
He is justifiably proud of his contribution during that time.
“I have a very specific set of skills,” Professor Cheng tells Allergy & Respiratory Republic. “It was very gratifying to be able to contribute.”
His other big covid role was as chair of the Australian government’s advisory committee on vaccines, and co-chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. He continues to be chair of ATAGI’s influenza group.
While he was deputy CHO he continued to work as director of infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology at Alfred Health’s infectious diseases department, a role he held until 2023.
At that time he moved over to the other behemoth of Victorian health, Monash Health where he is director of infectious diseases. He also continues to teach and research at Monash University.
“Medicine is a team sport,” he said, “and I have a lot of people to thank for their support and hard work. Individual recognition isn’t always appropriate, or at least doesn’t recognise all the people that contribute.
“So, a small thing I’ll resolve to do is try and pay it forward and nominate other people in the future.”
Four medical professionals were named Officers of the Order of Australia (AO).
Professor Richard Strugnell, a leader of the department of microbiology and immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, was cited “for distinguished service to medicine, particularly microbiology, immunology and vaccinology through tertiary education, research and board positions”.
He currently sits on the World Health Organization’s typhoid vaccines strategic advisory group and has worked as a university senior executive, in senior roles in an industry-focused cooperative research centre, in curriculum development, in industry (Wellcome Biotech), at several universities and in public service.
Professor Thomas Gottlieb was cited “for distinguished service to medicine as an infectious disease and microbiology specialist, author and researcher, and to professional organisations”.
He is head of infectious diseases and microbiology at Concord Hospital in Sydney, a lecturer at the University of Sydney, and former president of the Australian Society for Infectious Diseases, of which he is a Life Member.
Professor John Fraser was honoured “for distinguished service to medicine as an intensive care physician and surgeon, and to global critical care research”.
Professor Fraser is founder and director of the Critical Care Research Group and co-founder of BiVACOR, the biotech behind a total artificial heart currently going through a FDA-approved, first-in-human feasibility study.
He is a staff specialist at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, and director of the intensive care unit at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre.
Professor Graeme Hankey, cited “for distinguished service to medicine as a neurologist and stroke physician, to research, and as an editor and author”, has been chair of stroke research at the Perron Institute since 2022.
He was professor of neurology at the University of Western Australia for 10 years until 2023, and is currently a member of the Australian Stroke Alliance’s pre-hospital stroke council, and a clinical trials advisor for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.
Dr James Markos, former head of the department of respiratory medicine at Launceston General Hospital, was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medical education and research, particularly in respiratory and sleep disorders.
Dr Markos was an inaugural board member of the Lung Foundation Australia and served as chairman of the Tasmanian branch from 1990 to 2010. He also spent 20 years as a member of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease guidelines committee.
Outside of his clinical work, Dr Markos volunteers with the Clifford Craig Foundation, a health promotion charity supporting Launceston General Hospital.
Ms Sharon Smith and Ms Kim Olesen were awarded Public Service Medals (PSMs) for their outstanding public service in responding to the covid pandemic in New South Wales.
Ms Oleson, who served as the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District response lead for the pandemic, made significant contributions to response efforts including serving as the primary contact point for covid-related issues in the district, establishing the covid vaccination centre at St George Hospital and leading post-pandemic surgical recovery efforts to reduce the number of overdue surgeries in the district from over 3000 to under 200.
Ms Smith, who served as the chief data officer and executive director of the system information and analytics branch at NSW Health, ensured the organisation met its state and national reporting requirements to ensure a high standard of accountability and transparency. She also supported the pandemic response by providing epidemiological modelling, health system capacity forecasting and vaccination reporting.
Other members of the Order of Australia (AM)
Professor Samar Aoun: For significant service to community health through palliative and aged care research, and to tertiary education.
Professor Lauren Ayton: For significant service to optometry, to ophthalmology, and to public health as a clinician and researcher.
Dr Cameron Bell: For significant service to gastroenterology medicine as a clinician and administrator.
Professor Kim Bennell: For significant service to medical research and education, particularly in the field of health and rehabilitation science.
Dr Antheunis Boogert: For significant service to obstetric medicine as an administrator and clinician.
Dr James Branley: For significant service to diagnostic pathology, and to medical administration.
Professor Margaret Fry: For significant service to the nursing profession, and to tertiary education.
Professor Paul Glare: For significant service to medicine in the field of pain management and palliative care.
The Honourable Dr Kim Hames: For significant service to the Parliament of Western Australia, to medicine, and to the community.
Dr Vera Ignjatovic: For significant service to medical science in paediatric disorders and proteomics, to promotion of STEM to under-represented populations, and as a mentor.
Professor Alun Jackson: For significant service to health sciences, particularly as a researcher and academic.
Dr Kym Jenkins: For significant service to psychiatry as a clinician, academic and in executive roles.
Mr Adam Johnston: For significant service to community health, to the law, and to people living with disability.
Dr James Markos: For significant service to medical education and research, particularly respiratory and sleep disorders.
Dr Katherine Martin: For significant service to medicine, particularly trauma care and surgery, and to professional associations.
Associate Professor Susan Mathers: For significant service to medicine as a clinician, and to neurological research.
Professor Stephen McDonald: For significant service to kidney medicine as an administrator, researcher and clinician.
Dr Robyn Maree Miller: For significant service to children, young people and families.
Dr David Geoffrey Mills: For significant service to medicine through international development, and rural and remote health education.
Professor Sharon Linda Naismith: For significant service to neuropsychology, particularly dementia, through medical research and clinical practice.
The late Dr Richard Norman Porter: For significant service to medicine, particularly women’s health as a clinician and in leadership roles.
Dr Shirley Prager: For significant service to psychiatry, and to professional organisations.
Dr Craig Robert Rayner: For significant service to pharmacology in a range of roles and organisations.
Professor Julie Redfern: For significant service to cardiology, to allied health, to research and education, and to the community.
Professor Nina Tirnitz-Parker: For significant service to biomedical science.
Professor Julian Norman Trollor: For significant service to people with disability, particularly as a clinician and academic.
Professor Robert Gideon Weintraub: For significant service to paediatric medicine, and to medical research.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Dr Wally Ahmar: For service to medicine, particularly cardiology.
Professor Claudine Sharon Bonder: For service to medical research.
Dr Joseph Bartolo Casamento: For service to rugby union as a club doctor.
Ms Christabel Marguerite Chamarette: For service to community health, particularly as a psychologist.
Dr Andre Conradie: For service to medicine, and to community health.
Dr Karen Jean Douglas-Make: For service to medicine as a general practitioner, and to the community.
Ms Cheryl Marie Dunn: For service to nursing.
Dr Margaret Anne Garde: For service to medicine, particularly through education.
Clinical Associate Professor Robert Francis Parkyn: For service to medicine in the field of breast and endocrine surgery.
Dr Samantha Pillay: For service to urology.
Miss Angela Maree Russell: For service to nursing.
Public Service Medal
Federal:
Ms Emma Margaret Gleeson: For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of the Australia Government’s response to the Fair Work Commission’s historic Aged Care Work Value Case.
Mr Luke Mansfield: For outstanding public service through advocacy to disability reform.
Dr Victoria Regina Ross: For outstanding public service to public health within the Australian health system and the Australian Defence Force.
New South Wales:
Ms Jill Kristin Ludford: For outstanding public service to NSW Health in the Murrumbidgee region.
Queensland:
Ms Belinda Lewis: For outstanding public service to public health policy and program delivery in Queensland’s health sector.
ACT:
Ms Elizabeth Lopa: For outstanding public service to improve the delivery of health services to the Canberra community and the region.
Ms Jennifer Maree Sloane: For outstanding public service during the ACT Government’s covid public health response.
Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at www.gg.gov.au.
Additional reporting by Lincoln Tracy.
