NEWS RELEASE
June 24 2002
Distinguished
medical research leader to head health at UniSA
Professor David Wilkinson has been appointed as the new
Pro Vice Chancellor for the Division of Health Sciences, UniSA.
Professor Wilkinson, who succeeds Professor Ruth Grant,
is currently the Director of the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, a joint
initiative between the University of South Australia and the University of
Adelaide.
Professor Wilkinson said that UniSA’s Division of
Health Sciences enjoyed a strong international and national reputation for
teaching and research and that he was looking forward to building on the
work done by Professor Grant.
“Health science is a rapidly expanding, constantly
changing field, and our challenge is to graduate the very best health
science professionals and conduct significant research from UniSA,"
he said.
Professor
David Wilkinson has also recently been appointed to the team of
professionals who will lead SA’s Generational Health Review, a State
Government initiative to improve health service provision and delivery in
SA over the next 30 years. He is also a member of several important
government committees including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory
Committee.
Under Professor Wilkinson’s leadership the Spencer
Gulf Rural Health School grew from strength to strength, generating over
$6 million in income, publishing over 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals
and establishing several major projects, including a Rural Clinical School
with funding of $13.5 million over five years.
Before moving to Australia he was the Specialist
Scientist and Division Head for the Centre for Epidemiological Research in
South Africa (CERSA). In this
capacity he established the rural Hlabisa Division of CERSA, which became
the Medical Research Council's rural research unit in 1995. Professor Wilkinson established a multi-disciplinary,
cross-cultural research agenda in sexually transmitted diseases,
tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and health systems research that attracted many
millions of dollars in international research funds.
Professor Wilkinson has significant professional
standing. In 2001 he was awarded Membership of the Royal College of
Physicians (MRCP) of London, without examination, recognising what was
described as his 'exceptionally distinguished contributions to the field
of medicine'.
His qualifications include a Doctorate in Philosophy
from the University of South Australia, a Doctorate in Medicine from the
University of Natal, a Master of Science in epidemiology from Columbia
University, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor
of Science in pharmacology from the University of Manchester.
Vice Chancellor of UniSA, Professor Denise Bradley,
said that Professor Wilkinson's appointment would build on the significant
work of the current Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Ruth Grant, and
continue to strengthen the reputation of the Division as a national and
international leader in the health sciences.
