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History and humanities

History and humanities Reflections 28 October 2014 Free

Guns, bombs and stethoscopes

It is tempting, human beings that we are, to settle for the broad brushstrokes of history. In neglectful ignorance we can easily forget individual sacrifices made in our name and allow the past to become a distant stranger. To do so in relation to our medical forebears who served, and of whom many were wounded and died in World War I, would demean them and ...

Brendan J Nelson

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Child health Reflections 6 October 2014 Free

David John Seymour Hill MB BS, FRACP

David Hill was born in Melbourne on 15 July 1944. When he was 9 years old, his family moved to Mt Gambier, South Australia, where his father was a general practitioner and his mother was the first social worker. As a child, David always intended to be a doctor. From the age of 11, David attended boarding school at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, where he was a prefect. David studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, living at St Mark's College. After graduating in 1969, he was a resident medical officer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He completed a further residency year at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, where he subsequently worked as a paediatric registrar. In 1976, he moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he was Senior Paediatric Registrar at Dunedin Hospital and a lecturer with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Otago. On returning to Adelaide in 1977, he was Senior Visiting Paediatrician at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre and Regency Park Centre for Young Disabled. Concurrently, he conducted a private practice in North Adelaide. He also worked as a consultant paediatrician in Mt Gambier from 1987 to 1994. From 1995 to 2002, he was Director of Paediatrics at Toowoomba Hospital and a visiting specialist to surrounding clinics and hospitals. He returned to Mt Gambier to practise as a consultant paediatrician as well as being a visiting paediatrician to the Millicent and District Hospital from 2002 to 2008. David had a very active interest in most sports, especially cricket, and was an excellent swimmer — this interest would later be reflected when he served as Honorary Medical Officer to the South Australian Amateur Swimming Association. He was a mascot of Port Adelaide Football Club as a young boy and retained this allegiance for the rest of his life. He was a much-loved paediatrician because of his gentle and knowledgeable approach. David retired in 2008 but his health suffered. However, he never lost his patience and dry humour. David died from metastatic cancer on 3 July 2014, and is survived by June, his wife of over 40 years, and children Amanda, Amy, Angus and Alistair.

Ian Darnton-Hill

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History and humanities 7 July 2014 Open Access

Changing discourses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, 1914-2014

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people strongly assert that health research has contributed little to improving their health, in spite of its obvious potential. The health concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were largely ignored in early research published in the MJA, which reflected broader colonial history and racial discourses. This began to change with the demise of scientific racism, and changed policies and political campaigns for equal treatment of Indigenous people after the Second World War. In response to pressure from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations, in parallel to broader political struggles for Indigenous rights since the 1970s, there have been significant and measurable changes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. Many of these changes have been about the ethics of health research. Increasingly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, communities and organisations are now controlling and decolonising health research to better meet their needs, in collaboration with non-Indigenous researchers and research organisations.

David P Thomas MB BS, PhD, AFPHM · Roxanne Bainbridge PhD, BSocSc(Hons) · Komla Tsey BA(Hons), PhD

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History and humanities Reflections 19 May 2014 Free

Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder AO - a Celebration

An event honouring the career achievements of the Journal's very own Editor-in-Chief, Emeritus Professor Stephen Leeder AO, was hosted by the University of Sydney on 1 May 2014. Friends, colleagues and students both past and present gathered to mark the formal occasion of Stephen's retirement from the university. An assembly of esteemed researchers, educators and health policy advocates contributed to a lively program which befitted his substantial professional achievements and ideals. Guest facilitator Professor Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, shared some amusing and informative insights as the program unfolded. Presentations centred on four main areas: chronic disease: an international epidemic medical education public health education and training for the 21st century health policy. Key themes emerged on the interplay between global economic forces and the health of populations. We learned of the shifting pattern of the burden of non-communicable disease from developed to developing countries and the advancements on the early work of epidemiologist Abdel Omran.1 We also learned of the different ways in which medical education is adapting to become more community-based, with fascinating examples highlighting the success of problem-based learning for health professionals in developing countries. And in what might be described as a rare consensus, colleagues in health policy were united in applauding Stephen for his many contributions to this field. The Honourable Dr Neal Blewett AC related the political realities of health policy reform and how capricious political intervention can derail initiatives such as food labelling. Later, the Honourable Jillian Skinner, New South Wales Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, shared her own insights and led the audience in a standing ovation in recognition of Stephen's contributions at the conclusion of her address. Along the way, several entertaining anecdotes and “Leederisms” were shared, and proceedings concluded with a spirited interview of the man of the hour by award-winning health journalist Dr Norman Swan. This covered, among other topics, early experiences in Stephen's life and how these influenced his career choices. From the sentiments expressed by those in attendance, it is clear that Stephen has had an influence on many careers and is an ongoing source of inspiration to many in his field. It is our good fortune that we, at the Journal, benefit from the breadth and depth of his experience, and we join in congratulating him on this memorable occasion.

Christine Gee

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