Queen's Birthday Honours for Monash academics
Five current Monash academics are among the 900 Australians recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which recognises outstanding Australians who have made a real difference in their communities.
Director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Professor Jennie Ponsford, was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for her service to medical research in the field of neuropsychology. Her work to advance the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injuries contributed to her recognition.
Emeritus Professor Paul O'Brien was also named an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to medicine as a clinical surgeon and researcher, as a mentor to surgeons, and through contributions to public health both in Australia and internationally. Paul O'Brien is Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Monash University after 19 years as Head of the Department of Surgery at the Alfred Hospital. He founded the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) at Monash in 2004 and is now the Emeritus Director.
Monash Nursing and Midwifery PhD student and Peninsula Health Respiratory Medicine, Head of Unit, Associate Professor David Langton has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his outstanding service in the areas of thoracic and sleep medicine. He has held senior roles at Frankston Hospital for nearly three decades including Head of the Intensive Care Unit and Director of Medicine. Outside Peninsula Health, David has been the Medical Director for the Southern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Service, and is a past Director of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Adjunct Researcher in the School of Biological Sciences Dr Beth Gott was named a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the biological sciences as an ethnobotanist specialising in the study of the use of native plants by Indigenous people. Dr Gott created and curates the Aboriginal Educational Garden.
Also named a Member of the Order of Australia was Associate Professor Ken Harvey from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Associate Professor Harvey was recognised for his service to community health and the pharmaceutical industry through roles in developing guidelines for the ethical use of antibiotics.