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Professor Greg Whelan receives Australia Day honours
On Australia Day 2010, Professor Greg Whelan was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to "Education, Training and Administration" within health.
Professor Whelan has specialised in gastroenterology for over four decades and addiction medicine for two. One of his most significant achievements was raising the status of addiction medicine to that of a "specialty" within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
"This means that GPs can receive professional support when they are working with people with addictions," said Professor Whelan. "This has been a great help to doctors and it has helped to 'normalise' the perception of patients who experience addiction."
As well as his work in addiction medicine, Professor Whelan has spent time treating people with gastrointestinal disorders and has supported special needs self help groups such as the Australian Coeliac Society and the Australian Crohn's and Colitis Association.
"I have been fortunate to have received excellent support from my professional colleagues many of whom should be sharing this award. My family and friends have always been there for me particularly at times when the going was not smooth," he said.
Mercy Health congratulates Professor Greg Whelan AM on this great honour.
A core philosophy
Individuals who suffer ill health from drug, alcohol and other addictions that are chronic relapsing diseases deserve the same level of specialist support to back up the primary health care system as those with the recognised chronic relapsing illnesses of asthma, arthritis, diabetes and depression.
A brilliant career
Professor Whelan graduated from University of Sydney in 1961. He has had postgraduate training in internal medicine, gastroenterology and public health in Australia, USA, UK and Canada.
He was the deputy chairman, Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital (1971-89) and Dean of the Clinical School (1983-88).
He has consulted in public health in the Asian Pacific region. His research interests include management of alcohol and drug dependence. He is recognised as an innovative and charismatic teacher at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has worked as an advisor to state and federal government committees.
Qualifications
MB BS (University of Sydney)
MD (The University of Melbourne)
MSc. - Public Health (McMaster University, Canada)
FRACP, FAFPHM, FAChAM (Royal Australasian College of Physicians)
Current appointments
Professor Addiction Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Monash University
Medical Director, Addiction Rehabilitation Program at The Melbourne Clinic
Medical Advisor, Avant Medical Indemnity Organisation
Acting Director Victorian Doctors Health Program
Previous appointments
Director Department of Drug and Alcohol Studies, St Vincent's Health, Melbourne (1989-2004)
Chairman, Chapter of Addiction Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (2002-04)
Gastroenterologist St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Chairman Australian Gastroenterological Institute
Medical Advisor to the Coeliac Society and Australian Crohn's and Colitis Association
Contributions to training and education for the profession and the public
Chapter of Addiction Medicine
Led a small group of physicians within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians to establish the Chapter of Addiction Medicine to support doctors working in this field and to develop a training program for future doctors in this specialty. From 2002 to 2004 he acted as the Chapter's inaugural chairman. Assisted the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in writing documents to gain Australian Medical Council recognition of Addiction Medicine as a medical specialty
Community activities
Contributed to the community's understanding of gastroenterological diseases and addictions by public lectures
Medical advisor to two patient self help support organisations - the Australian Coeliac Society and the Australian Crohns and Colitis association
International activities
On behalf of the World Health Organization and the Australian Development Assistance Bureau lectured in public health including addictions in the Asian Pacific region
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