Several Flinders University staff were among the inaugural fellows inducted into the new Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS), which was opened by Federal Minister for Health, Sussan Ley,  last week.

The Flinders staff, including Professor Julio Licinio, Professor Karen Reynolds, Professor David Watson and Professor Michael Kidd, joined 112 other inaugural Fellows representing a range of disciplines in health and medical research being inducted in Canberra.

The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Academy is a newly established learned Academy which aims to be an importantpart of the health and medical scientific and policy landscape of Australia.

The Commonwealth Department of Health, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and several Australian universities all contributed to its development, which also included consultations with a range of other key organisations in Australia and internationally.

The Academy has been established under the presidency of Professor Ian Frazer AC and the patronage of Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE.

Professor Michael Kidd, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, and President of the World Organization of Family Doctors, said the Academy would provide expert evidence-based advice and advocacy that would benefit all Australians.

“The establishment of the Academy is an important advancement in the strong history of health and medical research in Australia,” said Professor Kidd.

“As well as highlighting achievements by our nation’s leading health and medicine researchers, the Academy will provide expert independent scientific assessment of issues relevant to the health of all Australians, and provide independent advice to the Australian Government on issues relating to evidence based medical practice and medical research.

“The work of the Academy should ensure that Australians will continue to enjoy the highest possible standards of medical care, based on sound research.

“An important feature of the Academy is that the Fellows will be expected to mentor and support the next generation of our nation’s clinician researchers.

“This will ensure that Australia continues to foster the development of new health and medical researchers whose important work will benefit our nation and the world through the work they carry out throughout their careers.”

You can find more information on the Academy here.