Top honour for Professor John Myburgh – A world leader in the field of critical care
The George Institute’s Professor John Myburgh has been awarded a Doctor of Science from UNSW Sydney for his outstanding contribution to the field of critical care and trauma.
Professor Myburgh, Director of the Critical Care and Trauma Division at The George Institute, was presented with his award by Professor Richard Henry, Pro Chancellor, UNSW Sydney.
UNSW’s Dean of Medicine Professor Rodney Phillips also spoke at length about Prof Myburgh’s expertise saying his research was judged to have led to “such significant scientific advance and contributed so much to the rationalisation of care of patients within critical care units that the academic board of the university had no hesitation in recommending that Professor Myburgh be awarded the decree of doctor of science”.
Professor Myburgh has published more than 200 research papers leading to more than 10,000 citations of his work. As chief investigator in more than 15 large clinical trials he has contributed to changing policy and practises in intensive care all over the world.
Professor Phillips added that he was one of the university’s finest academic scholars and the award was “testimony to a lifetime of achievements and dedication in the field of critical care medicine and in particular to fluid resuscitation, shock and brain injury”.
Professor Vlado Perkovic, Executive Director of The George Institute, said:
“It has been a privilege to work alongside John at The George Institute. He is an outstanding researcher, clinician and mentor and his work has led to improved survival outcomes to critical care patients, not just here in Australia, but the world over.
“This is a very much deserved award and I am sure everyone at the George Institute would join me in saying a huge congratulations.”
About Professor Myburgh
Professor Myburgh AO, is Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, University of New South Wales; Director of the Critical Care Division at the George Institute for Global Health and Senior Intensive Care Physician at the St George Hospital, Sydney. He holds an honorary Professorial appointment at the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
He is a Foundation Member and Past-Chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre at the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
He is a Senior Practitioner Fellow and received over $43M grant funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. In addition to other national and international grants, total cumulative research funding to the present is over A$77M.
In addition to his research profile, he has made a substantive contribution to education in Intensive Care Medicine, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels over the last 25 years. He was instrumental in establishing the College of Intensive Care Medicine, serving as a Fellowship examiner for twelve years, on the Board for ten years and as the first elected President from 2010-2012.
He is a current Council Member and Secretary-General for the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science.
In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday honours, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medicine as an intensive care medical practitioner, educator and researcher, and as an international innovator in patient management.
