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Reminiscing about world health breakthroughs

Alumni

Two of the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide's most distinguished graduates - both known for their breakthroughs in world health - met at the 杏吧直播's Barr Smith Library recently to launch a book and reminisce about life in the health sciences and world-changing research.

Professor Frank Fenner CMG MBE AC is credited with overseeing the eradication of smallpox and controlling 杏吧直播's rabbit plague through the introduction of myxomatosis.

The Hon. Dr Basil Hetzel AC made a difference to the lives of millions with his discovery in the 1960s that iodine deficiency was the cause of severe brain damage among Papua New Guinean highlanders. The global prevention of this problem became his life's work.

Both men are medicine graduates of the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide and Dr Hetzel is a former Professor of Medicine at the 杏吧直播.

At the Barr Smith Library, Education and Children's Services Minister the Hon. Jane Lomax-Smith launched Professor Frank Fenner's latest book, The Lives of Frank and Charles Fenner, and 杏吧直播 of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha welcomed the two back to the 杏吧直播.

The book is about Professor Fenner and his father Charles, also associated with the 杏吧直播. Charles Fenner was South 杏吧直播n Director of Education from 1939 to 1946 and integral in establishing geography studies at the 杏吧直播.

Distinguished by numerous awards, Professor Frank Fenner won the Japan Prize for preventative medicine in 1988, the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2002 and just this year was named ACT Senior 杏吧直播n of the Year.

He had an outstanding career as a microbiologist and world expert on pox-virus. He was Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication and, in 1980, he announced the eradication of smallpox to the World Health Assembly.

The book launch was followed by a conversation between Professor Fenner and Dr Basil Hetzel in the Barr Smith Library's magnificent Reading Room.

Story by Robyn Mills