Professor Terence O’Brien appointed Dean, Sub-Faculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health
Professor Terence O’Brien
Professor Terence O’Brien has been successfully appointed as Monash University’s next Dean, Sub-Faculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health, within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS).
Professor O’Brien will commence in the role from Monday 3 August 2026 following Professor Stephen Jane’s retirement from the position in the middle of this year, in addition to commencing the position of Director of Research at Alfred Care Group, Bayside Health.
A distinguished leader in health service
Professor O’Brien is a globally-recognised clinical neurologist and translational neuroscientist who drives the integration of research, education and clinical excellence across complex academic health systems. He is particularly renowned for his expertise in epilepsy, stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury, brain tumours and neurodegenerative disorders.
Currently Professor and Head of Monash’s School of Translational Medicine, MNHS, Program Director, Alfred Brain, and Deputy Director of Research, Alfred Health, Professor O’Brien provides strategic oversight of major health and research institutes. With a focus on building successful collaborations and partnerships between academia, industry and healthcare providers to enhance translational impact. He is also a Professor (Research) and National Health and Medical Research Council Leadership Fellow, and a consultant neurologist at both Cabrini Health and Alfred Health.
Throughout his career, Professor O’Brien has exemplified strong academic governance, initiated growth across institutes, departments and faculties, and advanced curriculum innovation and postgraduate supervision to foster clinical breakthroughs and improve patient outcomes. In 2018 he established the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Unit at The Alfred, the largest clinical trial site of its kind in Australia, and in 2014 founded the Australian Epilepsy Clinical Trials Network which he continues to chair.
He first joined Monash as the Van Cleef Roet Professor of Medicine (Neurology) in 2017, and has held several academic leadership positions throughout his tenure. Including Head, Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine (2017 – 2020) and Head, Central Clinical School (2020 – 2024). He was Acting Dean, Sub-Faculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health for five months in 2024 and appointed Head, School of Translational Medicine and Public Health in 2025.
An accomplished, translational researcher
Professor O’Brien has sustained exceptional academic achievement throughout his career in clinical practice and senior leadership positions, complemented by a distinguished record of research excellence. He has more than 48,000 citations and secured extensive research funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, Australian Research Council and National Institutes of Health over the past 25 years.
Professor O’Brien continues to engage with the academic community as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh and the Royal Australiasian College of Physicians, Neurology. He is a past President of the Epilepsy Society of Australia, and Chair of the Australian Epilepsy Clinical Trials Network (since 2014). His contributions have been recognised nationally and internationally through honours including the Fritz E. Dreifuss Award and Lecture of the American Epilepsy Society in 2022, and the James Lance Oration and Award, the highest honour of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists, in 2023.
With exceptional experience in academic leadership and clinical excellence, Professor O’Brien will provide crucial contributions to the advancement of the University’s capability to lead healthcare improvements in both teaching and research fields.
We congratulate Professor O’Brien on his new appointments and wishing him the best for when he commences in August. We also thank Foundational Dean Professor Stephen Jane, AO, for his exceptional leadership of the Sub-Faculty since its establishment, and as Director of Research Alfred Health since 2011, and look forward to working with him over the coming months before he retires from Monash.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
For more news, visit Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences or Monash University.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES