Dean’s Newsletter – October 2009

Senate elections: support for medical alumni
Sydney alumni will soon be receiving ballot papers for the five graduate positions on the University’s Senate. Senate elections normally attract a small voter turnout but this year, particularly, can I encourage alumni to participate.

Two medical graduates are standing for election – Barry Catchlove and Michael Copeman. Michael has served one term as a graduate Fellow of Senate and is standing for re-election.

Many will know Barry through his work as President of the Medical Alumni Association for 6 years until 2005 when he became President of the University of Sydney Alumni Council. In his time at the MAA, he introduced the new improved Radius and was also responsible setting up the medical student hardship scholarship scheme, which has been a great help for many students. He served on the Executive and Council of the Medical Foundation. Barry and his successor as Alumni Council President, David Turner, are standing as a team. Further information is given on their website: www.turnercatchlove.com.au

One of the recommendations of the recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into university governance was to end elections by graduates for Senate Fellows. The majority of the Inquiry’s committee members supported the view that alumni elections attract too few voters, and governing bodies should therefore be free to appoint alumni members. A strong turnout would send a message that alumni are engaged with the University and Faculty. Voting papers will be forwarded on Wednesday October 7 and must be returned by November 10.

Medical Foundation & fundraising changes
In an important development for our fundraising activities, the Medical Foundation has taken over as the primary vehicle for all our philanthropy/fundraising efforts. Until now, the Faculty and Foundation have conducted their own campaigns but this was neither efficient nor easily understood by donors or among staff.

Accompanying this has been a number of changes to the Foundation’s Council with Mr Roger Corbett AO becoming President of the Foundation. Roger is well known for his successful business career, but he has also had a long association with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and more recently has become a valued advisor and supporter of Sydney Medical School. Other new Council members include Professor Diana Horvath AO – again, known to many after her long career at Central Sydney Area Health Service. PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Mr Leigh Minehan has taken over as Treasurer.

The University is currently reviewing all its Foundations to ensure they comply with modern governance standards. Our recent changes mean we are able to provide greater administration/management support to smaller Foundations if they choose.

Strategic Review
One of the leading management consulting firms, Bain & Co, is about to commence a strategic review of Sydney Medical School. Bain is providing its services on a pro bono basis, allowing us to benefit from expertise which in the current budget climate would be difficult to secure. The review will look at all current activities, and help us clarify both short term and long term goals, and strategies to achieve them. We aim to link Bain’s work with our own review of operations, looking to see how we can achieve improved outcomes by adopting different practices, structures or processes. This is an exciting opportunity and an important process in an increasingly competitive education market.

Congratulations to…
As usual, there is a lengthy list of people who have been recognised in the past month for their contribution to the profession and community. These are mostly reported in a new weekly newsletter compiled by Ancella Cheung () and anyone with news of an award or similar should contact her.

But a few standouts: Stephen Leeder has joined a very select group with his award by the Public Health Association of Australia Sidney Sax Medal, in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to improving the health of the population. Chris Semsarian has been awarded the RPAH Foundation Medal for Excellence in Research for his work on the clinical and genetic basis of heart disease in the young, and Peter Liu from the Woolcock Institute has been awarded the Young Andrologist of the Year by the American Society of Andrologists. Graham Johnston, head of the Neuropharmacology Lab at the Bosch Institute, has been honoured by the Journal of Neurochemical Research, and congratulations to David Hunter and Jane Latimer for their ARC Future Fellowships.

Again, we have a strong representation on NHMRC principal committees which were announced last month, congratulations to all including Ron Trent, John Christodoulou, Merrilyn Walton, Louise Baur, Ngiare Brown, John Horvath, Peter Sainsbury, Ian Olver, John Stubbs and Sebastian Rosenberg.

Bruce Robinson
Dean