Congratulations to School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health Order of Australia recipients

Associate Professor Peter Downie, Department of Paediatrics

For significant service to paediatric oncology, to teaching, and to research.

Associate Professor Peter Downie is the head of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology and Director of the Children’s Cancer Centre at Monash Children’s Hospital. He is also a Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics, Monash University. He is a member of the leadership group for the Hudson Institute Paediatric Cancer Precision Medicine Program. This research is developing tumour tissue organoids that can be interrogated at a molecular and epigenetic level, with the aim of identifying and developing new targeted therapies for children with cancer. The primary focus of the research is on brain cancers, bone cancers, and other solid tumours of childhood.

Find out more about Associate Professor Peter Downie.

Professor Michelle Leech, Department of Medicine

For significant service to medical education, and to professional organisations.

Professor Michelle Leech is the Deputy Dean (Medicine) of Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. In her role as Deputy Dean, Professor Leech oversees the delivery of Monash’s flagship medical program across the Clayton, Gippsland and Malaysia campuses. Her work ensures that the learning objectives and outcomes of the direct and graduate entry degrees are aligned. She also coordinates a range of academic initiatives for Monash medical students. Professor Leech serves as the Deputy Chair of the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria and the Vice President of the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand.

Find out more about Professor Michelle Leech.

Emeritus Professor Bruce Tonge, Department of Psychiatry

For distinguished service to psychiatric medicine and research, to tertiary education, to youth, and to the community.

Emeritus Professor Tonge has a distinguished record of teaching and research in child psychiatry. He established and directed the internationally recognised Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology. He has research and teaching interests in the area of developmental psychiatry with a particular focus in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorders and behavioural and emotional disturbance in children and adolescents with intellectual disability and treatment outcome studies in childhood anxiety and depressive disorders.

Find out more about Emeritus Professor Bruce Tonge.