The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)

ACHS MEDAL 2007

Citation

22 November 2007

The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Gold Medal was inaugurated in 1984. It is the organisation's highest award. The Medal recognises an outstanding contribution by an individual to improving quality and safety in Australian health services.

The ACHS has awarded the Gold Medal for 2007 to Professor William Rawlinson for his leadership in quality practices, particularly relating to infectious diseases. Professor William Rawlinson is the current Head, Virology Division, SEALS Microbiology at Prince of Wales Hospital and Professor with The University of New South Wales.

Professor Rawlinson’s extensive list of achievements could fill several lifetimes and careers and are too many to cover here in the time they deserve.

Professor Rawlinson is renowned for his focus on the needs of patients, integrating new research findings into clinical and management areas and the provision of improved quality assurance services to clinical laboratories.

In addition to his other roles Professor Rawlinson provides health policy advice to NSW and Commonwealth health departments through chairing committees such as the NSW Health Blood-borne Viruses Advisory Panel, Commonwealth National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council HIV/HCV Guidelines Committee, and the WHO Influenza Collaborating Centre Advisory Panel. He plays a significant role with various bodies responsible for drafting guidelines on control of viral gastroenteritis, respiratory diseases, and vaccine introduction.

The reference Virology Diagnostic Laboratories (VDL) he supervises provide State-wide, and national services in influenza, avian influenza, HIV, HCV, sexually transmitted infections, antiviral resistance, and other molecular diagnostic virology.

His excellence in clinical and laboratory medicine has already been recognised by several awards including the Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Medicine (1990), Fenner Prize (2005), and the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia Travelling Professorship (2007).

The nomination for Professor Rawlinson made mention of many achievements including contributions to public health, teaching, research and health promotion.

The ACHS is proud to honour Professor Rawlinson, a very worthy recipient, with our highest award for his outstanding commitment to quality and safety in Australian health services.

Dr Michael Hodgson AM

President, ACHS