NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF A WOUNDS SPECIALIST
Reflections from the unstoppable giant in wound care
With
Professor Dr. Geoff Sussman
OAM JP Ph.D. FPS FACP FAIPM FAWMA FRVAHJ FCWCP
Adjunct Professor of Wound Care
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University &
Clinical Lecturer Medical Education,
University of Melbourne &
Wound Consultant,
Austin Hospital Heidelberg, Victoria &
Past President
Asia Pacific Association for Diabetic Limb Problems
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | May 2026
Professor Dr.Geoff Sussman holds a position in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, and is the Adjunct Professor of Wound Care He is a wound consultant at the Wound Clinic Austin Hospital.
He has been a faculty member at St Anne’s College Oxford University and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Auckland University. He has been involved in wound management for over 40 years in clinical research and clinical practice and teaching and has over 200 publications including 48 book chapters.
He was Chairman of Wounds Australia, is an Executive Board Member of The International Wound Infection Institute, is the Past President of The Asia Pacific Association for Diabetic Limb Problems. He is an associate editor of the International Wound Journal, a member of the editorial board of Wound Practice and Research, Chronic Wound Care Management and Research journal and is a member of the advisory committee for Post Graduate Wound Care education at Monash University. He was awarded an OAM in the Queens birthday Honours in 2006 for his work in wound care as a researcher, educator and clinician. In 2021 he was a State finalist for Senior Australian of the Year.
He has been involved in sport for many years in Gymnastics, Swimming and Diving. He was the President of Gymnastics Victoria for 20 years and was the chairman of the Gymnastics Foundation, also Chairman Australian Diving Association for ten years He was also the elite team manager of the Australian diving team for 4 years taking them to the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 .
He had been in Australian Teams at 3 Commonwealth games and was the Team attaché for Mauritius at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
A member of Sports Medicine Australia for more than 30 years and has a wide experience in Pharmacology and drugs in sport He has been a member of the oping Advisory Control Panel for Swimming Australia from 1988 to 2005. And is a member of the International Powerlifting TUE committee He was a delegate to both the Victorian Olympic council and the Victorian Commonwealth Games Association, He served for four years as an executive board member of the Victorian Olympic Council.
Source: Supplied
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New clinical research entity first to operate across both Australia and New Zealand
Over the past 30 years, 18,000 clinical trials that have been registered in Australia, with the sector contributing $1.4 billion to Australia’s economy annually. Trials are a critical aspect of evidence-based medicine, and are essential for testing how new treatments, tests and vaccines will work. In New Zealand they contribute $146 million to the New Zealand economy.
To capitalise on this unique position and growth, a coordinated multi-site clinical research operation was missing, until now.
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The role of genomic screening in transforming public health
Dr Jane Tiller is a lawyer, genetic counsellor and public health researcher. She is Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser in Public Health Genomics at Monash University, and a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant holder. Jane is passionate about the use of genomics to prevent disease, and in delivering equitable access to preventive genetic information at the population level. She is co-lead of DNA Screen, a world-first study piloting the offer of preventive DNA screening to the Australian adult population. DNA Screen has tested over 10,000 young people for genetic high risk of medically actionable conditions such as cancer and heart disease, finding about 2% of participants had genetic high risk. Jane is leading efforts to secure Commonwealth Government funding to expand the DNA Screen program, with the eventual goal of the development of a public health population screening program for disease prevention based on high genetic risk.
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Thyroid health into pregnancy
‘Without an adequate amount of thyroid hormone mothers can be exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia or eclampsia, which affect around 10% of pregnant women and are the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide. Mothers who suffer from hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular consequences and hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies. Evidence also indicates a risk of reduced cognitive ability to their offspring.
‘Knowing if you are genetically predisposed to Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Diseases, which are both thyroid autoimmune disorders is important to be aware of, to ensure all appropriate tests are ordered. Autoimmune disorders may predispose mothers to a thyroid problem during pregnancy’, says Professor Creswell Eastman, who also serves as the ATF’s Principal Medical Advisor.
