Life Members

Alford, Frank

Frank Alford graduated from Melbourne University in 1964, later obtaining his MRACP (1968), MD (1974) and FRACP (1974). Postgraduate training was at Stanford University, California and Middlesex Hospital, London. He returned to Australia as Staff Endocrinologist and then Director of Endocrinology and Diabetes, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne until 2001. More recently, he has been coordinator of the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, St John of God, Hospital, Bendigo, Victoria. He is a Professorial Fellow of the University of Melbourne. He was secretary of Council ADS (1977-1980) and vice president and president of ADS (1982-1988); Founding Convenor of the ADS Research Foundation (which became DART); founding member of the NADC committee; member of the Accreditation Committee of NADC; and currently a member of the Steering Committee of the NADC. He is author of 170 research publications, which focus on: the patho-physiology of insulin resistance; beta cell dysfunction; metabolic abnormalities of growth hormone deficiency in adults; and the patho-physiology of type 2 diabetes. He received the Claude Kellion Lecture award in 2011.

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Bartley, Paul

I graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland with first-class honours in 1967 and received the MRA CP in 1971 and the FRA CP in 1975. My research experience was in the Dept of medicine at the University of Queensland and at the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda on a US PHS research Fellowship. On return to Australia I was director of endocrinology at in Greenslopes hospital and since leaving that have been in private practice. I joined the Australian diabetes Society in the late 1970s and 1988 was elected to its council where I stayed till the end of 1996 and held the offices of council member, Treasurer, vice president and president from 1994 through 1996. I served on the National action plan implementation committee and was also a member of the specialist advisory committee in endocrinology for the College of physicians. I served as director of diabetes Australia for eight years on the national body. While on the council I implemented incorporation for the society.

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Carter AO, John

John Carter joined the Australian Diabetes Society in 1973 when undertaking a post-graduate fellowship at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. After being awarded his Doctorate for a thesis on Thyroid Function in Severe, Chronic Illness, he spent two years in Winnipeg, Canada & subsequently became the foundation Director of Endocrinology & Metabolism at Concord Hospital . From 1988-1992 he was a councilor of the ADS & was President from 1992-1994. In 1995 he was Chairman of the Diabetes National Action Plan Implementation Committee & from 1996-2000 was Chairman of the Commonwealth Ministerial Advisory Committee on Diabetes. From 2000,-2004 he was a member of the National Diabetes Strategy Group. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, & was awarded an AO for services to diabetes in 2000.

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Chisholm AO, Don

Don Chisholm has been involved in diabetes research and clinical practice for over 40years and has published over 250 original papers or reviews/editorials, with a recent annual citation rate over 600. He is Professor of Endocrinology at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney,UNSW and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Diabetes and Obesity Program). He has been President of ADS (1984-86), Vice President (1997-2003) and Chairman of the Congress Program Committee (1985-88) of the IDF and a Councillor of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1986-95). He was a member of the National Board of Directors of St Vincents Health Australia (1996-2005) and chair, National Diabetes Strategy Group, Commonwealth Department of Health (2001-2005).He is currently Chair of the Board of the Diabetes Vaccine Development Centre. He has been awarded the College Medal by the RACP, the Kellion Award by the ADS, the Kempson Maddox award by DA NSW and an Officer in the Order of Australia.

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Cohen AO, Alex

Career in diabetes commenced at Hammersmith Hospital in 1954 followed by a year at Kings College Hospital under the venerated Robin Lawrence. A further period at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary working with the original BZ55 Carbutamide oral hypoglycaemic before returning to Perth the head up the diabetic unit for many years following the departure of John Calder. Further studies for twelve months at Harvard on Alcohol Hypoglycaemia before returning to Royal Perth Hospital where I remained until becoming PRACP in 1992. Studies in diabetes centred particularly around the metabolic abnormalities of Polycystic Ovary Disease.Board of Diabetes Australia 1998 until2003. For over ten years President of the Diabetes Research Foundation of WA where, in addition to maintaining support for local scientists, sufficient funds were raised to found a Chair of Diabetes Research in the University of Western Australia in 2003 which has gone from strength to strength. From 2001 t0 2003 I was Chancellor of the University of Western Australia. Retired in 2004.

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Jerums AM, George

George Jerums graduated in Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 1962. After Resident and Registrar years at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, he worked on the role of the Renin Angiotensin System in Hypertension, at the Austin Hospital and graduated MD in 1970. Following postgraduate work in Cleveland and London, he was appointed a Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Austin Hospital in 1972. His research interests have focussed on diabetic complications, especially diabetic renal disease. The Kellion Award is a recent innovation by the Australian Diabetes Society. The late Claude Kellion A.M. established the Kellion Diabetes Foundation 30 years ago following the death of his son John Claude Kellion at the age of 38 years, from diabetes complications. Claude has donated many millions of dollars towards diabetes research, and included in the package was a donation to the Australian Diabetes Society to fund a visit by an eminent overseas Diabetologist who was required to present a lecture at the ADS Meeting and also deliver lectures in other states. The new Kellion Award has only been in existence since 2000. Professor George Jerums received the inaugural Distinguished Scientist Award to mark Austin Health’s 2005 Research Week. The award was granted by the Austin Hospital Medical Research Foundation and recognises his prominence as a scientist and his contribution to the research community. Professor Jerums’ major contribution to research has been the early detection and treatment of diabetic renal disease. Four years ago he was awarded the prestigious Kellion Award by the Australian Diabetes Society for this work. Professor Jerums received an AM in the Australia Day 2011 Honours. This is a fitting recognition for a truly outstanding lifetime contribution to medical research at Austin Health. He is currently Endocrinologist at Austin Health and Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne.

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Harrison, Len

Len Harrison MB BS (UNSW), MD (UMelb), DSc (UMelb), FRACP, FRCPA is a Professor in the Department of Human Biology, University of Melbourne, and Head, Autoimmunity and Transplantation Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and Burnet Clinical Research Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). He was Director of the Department of Clinical Immunology, RMH, from 1987-2009. Prior to post-doctoral research at the NIH on a C.J. Martin Fellowship, he worked with Roger Melick and FIR (‘Skip’) Martin. On returning to Melbourne he was Endocrinologist and Head of the Endocrine Lab at RMH until his current appointments in 1987. His research is focused on the pathogenesis and prevention of diabetes. Len is an author on over 480 research publications and several books. His awards for research include the Wellcome (Glaxo) Australia Medal, Susman Prize from the RACP, Kellion Medal from the ADS and Rumbough Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International. He has served on NHMRC Medical Research Committee and the Health Research Ethics Committee, been a Director of the Australian Society for Medical Research, Secretary and President of the Australian Diabetes Society, Chairman of the Scientific Review Committee of the JDRF, member of the JDRF Research Advisory Board, President of the Immunology of Diabetes Society, and is a Center Director, Trialnet International.

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Moses OAM, Robert

Professor Robert Moses graduated from the University of Sydney in 1969 and obtained Membership of the RACP at the relatively young age of 27. He commenced private practice in the Wollongong area as a general physician with an interest in endocrinology. Gradually this interest became focused into a predominantly endocrine/diabetes practice. In his forties Professor Moses attended the University of Wollongong and completed a BA and a MSc (Hons). He began to develop a primary interest in gestational diabetes and to use the data generated in private practice to publish extensively on this subject. In 1998 he became a part time staff specialist and accepted an honorary Professorial appointment with the University of Wollongong. In 2000, Professor Moses was awarded a MD from the University of Sydney for his work on GDM. For the past few years Professor Moses has been an Associate Editor of Diabetes Care with primary responsibility for submissions concerned with pregnancy. He continues in his part-time role and is prominent in national and international bodies related to diabetes in pregnancy.

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Proietto, Joseph

Professor Proietto is the inaugural Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation, Professor of Medicine, in the Department of Medicine Austin Health, University of Melbourne. Professor Proietto is a scientist and clinician investigating the genetic and biochemical causes of obesity and type 2 diabetes. He has been on the Council of the Australian Diabetes Society and has served on the Board of Diabetes Australia acting as Chairman of its Medical Educational and Scientific Council. He was Chairman of the National Association of Diabetes Centres. Professor Proietto has published over 150 articles, book chapters and books on obesity and diabetes. He is an editor and reviewer of a number of international scientific journals.

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Stocks AM, Alan E

Alan studied medicine at King’s College Hospital, London, qualifying in 1960. During final year he developed type 1 diabetes, and decided soon thereafter to pursue a career in diabetes, beginning as House Physician to the King’s Diabetic Department, founded by R.D.Lawrence. He emigrated to Australia in 1961, and married Dr. Miriam Stafford. Miriam had successfully recommended an appointment for Alan as an RMO at Princess Alexandra Hospital Brisbane, where he later became Visiting Physician to the Diabetic Clinic after postgraduate training with Dr. FIR ( Skip ) Martin at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Prof. John Butterfield at Guy’s Hospital London. Alan is a founding member of ADS, served on Council for ten years,and was its President from 1980 – 82. He is a Governor of the Kellion Diabetes Foundation Ltd., and the founder and administrator of the Kellion Victory Medals Scheme. A particular research interest is the ability of domestic dogs to detect hypoglycaemia in their diabetic owners. Alan was made a Member of the Order of Australia(AM) in 1998.

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Suthers, Michael

Michael Suthers graduated from Monash University in 1969. He intended to pursue a career in basic medical research, but after graduation was drawn into clinical medicine. His endocrine training was at Prince Henry's Hospital in Melbourne. Gordon Ennis was his main instructor for diabetes care . Michael established a private practice, and worked at Moorabbin Hospital and Prince Henry's Hospital and Kingston Centre until moving to Cairns in 1984. At that time there was very little endocrine service in rural Queensland. He established community based diabetes centres at Moorabbin Hospital and Cairns Base Hospital. Michael's work in Cairns involved outreach services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities - clinical work and supervision of services provided locally and by the multi- disciplinary team of the Cairns Diabetes Centre. The centre in Cairns has grown to become the central resource for effective clinical services throughout Cape York and the Torres Strait.

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Welborn AO, Timothy A
Emeritus Consultant, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Western Australia

Dr Timothy A Welborn a Resident & Research Assistant in the Department of Endocrinology at Hammersmith Hospital from 1963 to 1966. Dr Welborn completed his PhD at London University on epidemiological studies of the levels of insulin in 1969. Consultant in Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital from 1970-2002. Dr Welborn received the Excellence in Service Award from the SCGH Clinical Staff Association in 2002. Population studies on insulin levels and insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Busselton 1966-1985, National Heart Foundation 1986-1989, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Health Survey 1995, and the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AUSDIAB) 2000-2001. Also epemiologival studies on prevalence of diabetic complications, C-peptide discriminating type 1 vs type 2 diabetes and staff stimulation of insulin dependent diabetes. Dr Welborn is a Member of the Australian Diabetes Society since 1973. President of ADS 1982-1984, overseeing the amalgamation of diverse diabetes organisations to form Diabetes Australia in 1986 as a uniform voice for lobbying government and coordinating service and research funding. Award Order of Australia (AO) in 2004. Dr Welborn continues in endocrinology and diabetes private practice.

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Williams, Paul

Paul Williams Joined the Australian Diabetes Society in 1973 soon after its inauguration in 1972 at the Australian Endocrine Society Meeting. He completed a Masters Degree in 1979 and a PhD in 1985. Paul has been involved in diabetes research since 1972, covering insulin resistance, insulin receptor structure and function, insulin action, diabetes complications and pathology testing for diabetes. In 1993 at Stonybrook University, Long Island (USA) he was involved in mapping the individual amino acids responsible for insulin receptor binding. During 1994 and 1995 he was on the ADS program organising committee, and joined the ADS Council in 1996 where her served as Councillor Treasurer, Vice President and President in 2001-2002. He is a Director of Diabetes Australia Research Ltd. (appointed 2002) and rejoined the Diabetes Australia Board in 2008 after serving there from 1998-2002. He has been a member of the Diabetes Australia International Affairs Committee since 1999, he is on the Executive Committee of the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region and has been an IDF delegate for Diabetes Australia since 1999. Paul is currently the Endocrine Society of Australia’s delegate to the Pathology Associations Committee and a member of the American Diabetes Association. He has been a Foundation Fellow of the Faculty of Science (RCPA) and an Associate Member of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. He is an Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow at the University of Sydney Medical School and is head of the Diagnostic Endocrinology laboratory at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

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Yue AM, Dennis

Professor Dennis Yue is Professor in Medicine and Kellion Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Sydney. He is Head of Department of Endocrinology and Director of Diabetes of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Professor Yue completed his medical undergraduate training at the University of Sydney and was awarded a PhD in 1977. He became a Fellow of the Nuffield Foundation and conducted post-graduate research at the Cambridge University. His main research interests are in the area of diabetic complications. The Diabetes Foot Clinic he established at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is considered one of the best in Australia. Professor Yue is a pioneer in developing multidisciplinary ambulatory care as a model of providing cost effective management of diabetes in the community. He is also well known for having established a comprehensive clinical database of diabetes which has facilitated many facets of diabetes research. Professor Yue was a recipient of the Millennium Award of Diabetes Australia for diabetes research, the Leo Dintenfass Medal of the Rebecca Cooper Foundation for research in diabetes and the Kellion Award of the Australian Diabetes Society for outstanding contribution to diabetes service and research. He was also made a Member of the Order of Australia by the Australian Government.

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Zimmet AO, Paul
MD PhD FRACP FRCP FTSE Hon Doctoris Causa (Complutense, Madrid)

Professor Paul Zimmet was the Founding Director of the International Diabetes Institute and is now Director Emeritus, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Honorary Professor, Monash University. He co-chairs the IDF Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention and co-chaired the 2009 WHO Expert Committee on Diabetes. He has been a vigorous advocate to bring diabetes to the forefront in Australia. He has an outstanding international record in diabetes and obesity research, particularly in the field of epidemiology, public health and molecular biology. He helped to establish, and co-leads, “AusDiab”- the first national diabetes study. He is actively involved in indigenous diabetes activities in Central Australia. He is also widely recognised for his studies in Mauritius and in Pacific Ocean populations providing new insights into the aetiology of type 2 diabetes. He is an Honorary Life Member of the ADS and EASD. He has been awarded many Australian and international honours and received the 2010 Grand Hamdan International Prize for Medical Sciences. He has been awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to medicine, nutrition, and the biotechnology industry and was a member of the Australian Government Preventative Taskforce for Obesity, Tobacco and Alcohol.

Nominating Members

The Council of the Australian Diabetes Society wish to remind the members that Ordinary or Corresponding members of the Society may be nominated for admission as an Honorary Life Member of the ADS. The following is an extract from the ADS Constitution on the process under Item 17.

17.       Honorary life membership

17.1     An ordinary member or corresponding member may be nominated by a proposer and seconder (both of whom must be members) for admission as an honorary life member of the Society. Nominations must be delivered to the Society at its registered office for consideration by the National Council and must be supported by a curriculum vitae which evidences the member’s pre-eminence in professional, scientific or societal aspects of diabetes.

17.2     The nomination will be considered by the National Council and if, in the opinion of the National Council (directors of the National Council having an interest in the nomination having declared that interest and abstained from voting) the nominee is distinguished by their contribution to the knowledge of diabetes or to the welfare of people with diabetes and worthy of the distinction, the member will be conferred with honorary life membership.

17.3     Honorary life members have the right to receive notices of and to attend and be heard at any general meeting and to vote at any general meeting.

Order of members receiving Life Membership to the Australian Diabetes Society: