Victorian Public Healthcare Awards

Professor Graham Brown has had a profound and lasting impact on public healthcare during his 40-year career at The Royal Melbourne. Professor Brown established and led the renowned Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS) in 1996. In 1999, he became the third James Stewart Professor of Medicine, and Head of the Department of Medicine at The Royal Melbourne.

He held this position until 2007 at which time he was appointed as Foundation Director of the Nossal Institute for Global Health and the Foundation Chair in Global Health at the University of Melbourne. It is, however, not only length of service, accolades and positions of responsibility that define Professor Brown; it is his outstanding commitment to and passion for his patients, and his unwavering belief in the vital role that The Royal Melbourne plays in caring for the community.

Ann Cook has been a nurse at St Vincent's Melbourne for 54 years. It is hard to capture in words what makes 'Cookie' so remarkable, as a nurse, a mentor and friend. She was a pioneer of day oncology nursing and in many ways shaped the model of care that we see today. She was also instrumental in setting up the Victorian Oncology Nursing Group. When she reached her 50-year milestone in 2007, more than 30 staff wrote letters talking about the positive impact she had on their lives and careers. She has been a mentor to countless nurses across St Vincent's, including our CEO Patricia O'Rourke. The final words must go to Ann: 'You put in and you receive so much from the patients – the rewards will always follow when you give your best.'

Professor Frank Dudley's commitment and dedication to gastroenterology led to the development of a stand-alone gastroenterology department at The Alfred, and to his appointment as its Director 28 years ago. His distinguished academic career along with his strategic vision and determination was paramount to the successful growth and development of the department, which is recognised internationally for its academic excellence and expertise in conducting large-scale, clinical trials.

Professor Dudley's passion is reflected in his commitment and skill in mentoring junior staff; his supervision of postgraduate students and countless advanced trainees in gastroenterology. Many of his students have gone on to influential positions throughout the Victorian and Australian health sector

Professor Don Esmore was recruited to The Alfred Hospital (the Alfred) in 1989 to establish an adult heart transplant program for Victoria.  In the first 12 months, he performed 30 heart transplants. Twenty years on, 18 of those patients remain alive and well. By 1990, the Professor introduced combined heart and lung transplantation and he coached his team to provide lung transplantation as an isolated procedure for patients with end-stage lung disease.

In 2007, under Professor Esmore, The Alfred extended the lung program to include paediatric lung transplantation. As a pioneer in heart and lung transplantation, he has changed the lives of more than 1,000 patients.  He has given individuals a second, and sometimes even a third, chance when hope was slim.

Dr Jennifer Johns is the Medical Director of Austin Health's Specialty Clinical Services Unit and over the past 35 years has made a major contribution to the field of cardiology through her commitment to research, medical and public education, support of female cardiologists and her high-level honorary roles with the National Heart Foundation.

Dr Johns aims to raise the awareness of heart disease among younger and middle-aged women – a disease that kills four times as many women as does breast cancer. Her strong belief in the need for equity in the provision of services is evident in her advocacy for regional Victorians and ongoing work for people of Sri Lanka following the Boxing Day tsunami. Dr Johns has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the provision of quality public health care.