15 June 2021

Two Austin Health staff, Professors Ian Baldwin and David Hare, have been recognised for their contribution to the community in this year's Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Prof Baldwin received was acknowledged for his ‘significant service to critical care nursing, and to medical research’ while Prof Hare received his nomination for his ‘service to cardiology’.

Ian's career in Critical Care nursing has spanned more than 30 years. He has had more than 100 peer reviewed publications and is an Honorary Adjunct Professor of Nursing at both Deakin University and RMIT.

Associate Professor Stephen Warillow, the Director of Austin Health’s ICU, said Prof Baldwin’s work has pioneered renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients.

“Ian is globally recognised as a giant in ICU research,” A/Prof Warrillow said.

“He has taught and mentored generations of ICU staff at Austin Health through one of the most successful and admired ICU nurse training programs in the world.

“It is fitting that Ian has been recognised with this honour and a source of great pride for the whole ICU team and all of us at the Austin, where he has done so much to advance patient care and critical care practice,” he said.

Professor Baldwin said he realised early in his career that he appreciated the pleasure and reward that comes from helping people learn in a complex clinical environment such as an ICU.

“To receive this award and honour is very meaningful to me as an Australian and after almost 40 years in public health, but I do avoid the spotlight,” Ian said.

“I started my career in a regional city, and although this had career limitations. I met people who quickly suggested I should move on to advanced training in Melbourne and meet the leaders there.

“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the best in acute medicine and their support and collaboration linked me to a future with more study, national and international contributions and affiliations and some great and original research.

“Along with my wife and family, the ICU team have been the best. 

“I guess the Order of Australia Membership (AM) is an example of where hard work, study and collaboration can see small town things grow to big city, and National accolade,” he said.

Professor Hare has worked as a cardiologist for almost 50 years helping to identify the causes of heart disease, reduce the risk of heart attack and change the way surgery is performed on heart attack patients.

David led ground-breaking cardiac research by Austin Health clinicians that has the potential to improve the long-term survival rate for hundreds of thousands of patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery around the world each year by as much as 20%.

“Of course, recognition such as this is always in the context of a fertile environment and collegially – never in isolation,” David said.

Former Austin Health staff member, Peter Grant, was also recognised for his contribution to gynaecological oncology.