I was a generalist Infectious Diseases Physician with no special interests; however, I enjoyed teaching and spent 10 years on the College's National Examinations Panel. I retired in 2024 at the age of 55, and in the last few months of my career, finally felt that I was starting to get the hang of it.

My medical education was at The University of Queensland and Monash University (Vic), and my career began in 1992 pushing pen and paper in Monash-affiliated hospitals in Melbourne. It concluded typing up digital health records at North Canberra Hospital, which was formerly known as the 'Calvary Public Hospital Bruce' when I started there in 2018.

In between, I was privileged to begin my Infectious Diseases training at Fairfield Hospital (Vic) under the tutelage of Prof Allen Yung, one of Australia's pre-eminent clinicians and teachers. Additionally, I completed a PhD in malaria immunology at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin under the supervision of Prof Nick Anstey. I later held consultant posts at Royal Darwin, Wollongong and Canberra Hospitals.

In my final years, I exchanged some hospital hours to work as a Clinical Evaluator at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which coincided with the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines.

Awards

AMA Prize, Ciba Geigy Prize and Prince Henry’s Senior Medical Staff Association Prize, Monash University, Vic (1991); Young Investigator Award, 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, Georgia (2001); Harry Collins Award for Achievement in Reducing Healthcare Associated Infections, NSW Health (team, 2009); Chief Executive’s Award for Clinical Excellence, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW (2012); National Lead Clinician’s Group Award for Excellence in Innovative Implementation of Clinical Guidelines, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (team, 2013); Physician Educator of the Year, Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, ACT (2020); Outstanding performance by a Consultant or Fellow as a Mentor and/or Role Model, Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, ACT (2020).