Professor Jaquelyne Hughes awarded the Arthur E Mills Medal
Date published:
10 Jun 2025
Professor Jaquelyne Hughes FRACP, was awarded the Arthur E Mills Medal at the RACP Convocation Ceremony, in Sydney last week.
As part of the Convocation procession, Professor Hughes was called to the podium by RACP President, Dr Jennifer Martin, and delivered a powerful and moving Oration, entitled ‘Culture Practiced in Medicine.’
The Arthur E Mills Oration was endowed in 1950 by his widow and established within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for the promotion and encouragement of medical education and general culture. The Arthur E Mills Oration is not given every year underscoring the importance and honour of Professors Hughes invitation to speak.
Professor Hughes wove her Oration around the central character of Arthur E Mills, revealing a story of the modern Australian physician, committed to upholding culture, but also to changing practice and innovating to address the needs of patients and community. Professor Hughes invited the listeners to reflect on self, relationships to others, to place and time, and how this reflection can inform the new Cultural Safety Practice standard, mandated by the College.
Darwin is Professor Hughes' hometown. Her medical training was in both the Top End and in Sydney. She is now a Royal Darwin Hospital Senior Staff Specialist Nephrologist, Clinical Research Professor and Matthew Flinders Professor of Medical Education.
Royal Darwin Hospital doctors were present for the occasion including Dr Emma Spencer, Director Physician Education Royal Darwin Hospital. Two past Darwin Basic Trainees joined her, who gained Fellowship at the ceremony; Dr Mel Carrol and Dr Ash Thomas. Dr Mel Carrol works in gastroenterology and general medicine. She was supported by her large family from Newcastle. Dr Ash Thomas works in infectious diseases and was supported by her parents, Dr Mahiban and Sujatha Thomas, who are both long term specialists at Royal Darwin Hospital and have contributed to service provision over many years.
Professor Hughes reflected that her Royal Darwin Hospital training experience equipped her with unique skills used in her advanced training in other states and highlighted that Training within the environment of the Northern Territory equips developing physicians with local and nationally relevant clinical skills.
The RACP Convocation Ceremony celebrated new Fellows in Adult Medicine and Paediatrics & Child Health Divisions as well as trainees from the faculties of Public Health Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the chapters of Sexual Health Medicine and the Chapter and Diploma recipients of Palliative Medicine.
The ceremony was notable for a large crowd of proud multigeneration family supporters and many new Fellows brought their small children, spouses, and parents onto the stage with them, highlighting the journeys and sacrifices families make alongside trainees and the shared joy at celebrating a profound accomplishment.