All Menzies Memorial Scholars

PROFESSOR ROBYN O'HEHIR
1986 Menzies Scholar in Medicine
BSc, MB BS (Hons I), FRACP, PhD, FRCP

Current positions:
· Director, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (AIRMed), The Alfred
· Professor of Medicine (Allergy & Clinical Immunology and Respiratory Medicine), Monash University
· Honorary Professor of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University
· Director, Menzies Foundation

Other awards and achievements:
1979: Medal for Top Graduating Medical student Monash University
1987: Freedom of the City of London
1989-99: Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in Clinical Science (UK)
2000- Editorial Board, Clinical and Experimental Allergy
2001- Assoc Editor, International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
2003-05 Past President, Menzies Memorial Scholars Association

Education:
1975: BSc (Microbiology and Biochemistry)
1979: MBBS (Hons I) Monash University
1987: FRACP
1989: PhD in Immunology (University of London)
1995: FRCP London.

Publications:
Over 120 peer-reviewed articles
Medical subeditor: Asthma and Allergy for Dummies, Wiley Ed. 2003

Areas of Professional Interest:

AIRMed covers the gamut from the very common (asthma and other allergic disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep disordered breathing and other general respiratory diseases) through the less common (adult cystic fibrosis [State Centre of Excellence], lung transplantation [one of the two major services in Australia] and a pulmonary vascular disease program). Conducts an active program of clinical medicine, education and clinical and experimental research investigating and modulating human allergic responses to common allergens with continuous competitive funding from NHMRC since 1997. Overall personal research grant funding in excess of $6 million since 1996 with high international and national status reflected by numerous publications and speaking invitations.

Career History:
1993-95: Academic Head of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
1995-1996: Acting Chairman Department of Immunology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, UK
1996: Director of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Alfred Hospital and Foundation Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Monash University (the first Chair of Allergy in Australia).

Professional/Other Affiliations:
· Board Member of Asthma Victoria, the Menzies Foundation and the Harold Mitchell Foundation.
· Program Director for the Melbourne node of the Co-operative Research Centre for Asthma, Australia.
· Past President of the Menzies Memorial Scholars Association, 2003-2005.

Family/Recreation/Interests:
Married - Professor Bob Williamson; Children - 1 son and 1 daughter

March 2004

DR SIMONE O'SHEA
2004 Menzies Scholar in Allied Health Sciences

Current position/s:
Physiotherapist and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator, Wodonga Regional Health Service.

Other awards and achievements:
Former AIS Associate Scholarship Holder in Netball.

Education:
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with First Class Honours from La Trobe University.
PhD project "Investigation of the effects of peripheral strength training for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease".

Areas of Professional Interest:
PhD project: To examine whether a program of simple progressive resistance exercises can reduce muscle weakness and improve functional performance for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis); To explore factors associated with exercise performance because an exercise program is only beneficial if it is accessible, cost-effective and valued by the participants; To contribute to the design of pulmonary rehabilitation programs throughout Australia.

Family/Recreation/Interests:
Albury/Wodonga Volleyball Women’s Representative Team Captain/Coach and PR Officer.

Sep 2004