Karen Manley (third from left), recipient of the MJA/Wyeth Prize, with (left to right) Dr Michael Lee, Medical Director of Wyeth Australia, Dr Martin Van Der Weyden, Editor of the Medical Journal of Australia and Dr Rosanna Capolingua, President of the AMA.

The Journal’s Content Review Committee awarded the 2007 MJA/Wyeth Prize to Karen Manley and colleagues, Margaret Fraenkel, Barrie Mayall and David Power, from Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, for their research article, Probiotic treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a randomised controlled trial, published in the 7 May 2007 issue of the Journal (MJA 2007; 186: 454-457).

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) often colonise the gastrointestinal tract of hospital patients, particularly those attending renal services. In a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial, Manley and her colleagues demonstrated that a daily dose of commercial yoghurt containing the probiotic Lactobacillus GG strain was effective in eliminating VRE from the bowel.

Dr Michael Lee, Medical Director of Wyeth Australia, presented the award. The MJA thanks Wyeth Australia for its continuing commitment to promoting excellence in Australian clinical research through the prestigious MJA/Wyeth Prize.

Mr Barry Fewquandie (far right), recipient of the Dr Ross Ingram Memorial Essay Prize, with (left to right) Ms Karen Johnson, Ms Tania Ingram, Dr Van Der Weyden, Ms Julie Neville, Dr Ruth Armstrong and Dr Capolingua.

This year’s recipient of the Dr Ross Ingram Memorial Essay Prize was Barry Fewquandie, Coordinator of an Indigenous cardiac rehabilitation program in Cairns. His winning essay, The heart of the matter is, that it’s a matter of the heart was published in the 19 May 2008 issue of the Journal (MJA 2008; 188: 580-582). It describes Fewquandie’s personal journey of recovery after acute coronary syndrome, his work in cardiac rehabilitation and his passion for improving the cardiovascular health of Indigenous Australians. In presenting the prize, MJA editorial staff were joined by three members of the late Dr Ross Ingram’s family.

Dr Capolingua and Dr Van Der Weyden.

Dr Martin Van Der Weyden, MJA Editor since 1995 and Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Medical Publishing Company since 1996, was formally recognised for his “services to the Medical Journal of Australia, the medical profession and the AMA” with the 2008 AMA President’s Award. This award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution towards fostering the objectives of the AMA in pursuit of a better health system for Australia. In presenting the award, AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua said Dr Van Der Weyden has “enjoyed a distinguished, 30-year career in medical practice, teaching and medical administration and ensured the continuing reputation of the Medical Journal of Australia as Australia’s premier peer-reviewed medical journal. He has also managed to raise the profile of medical science and the profession by making the Journal more relevant to general audiences by publishing thematic coverage of medical issues”.