The Institute of Child Health Is Established in 1949
From Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive
In 1945 (Sir) Dr Robert Wade, a paediatric surgeon, advocated the creation of a Chair and an Institute of Child Health. As so often occurs, the University was short of money, so the assistance of the Commonwealth Government was enlisted. In 1948-1949 the Commonwealth Department of Health decided to establish an Institute of Child Health as a section of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in the University, but located both in the University and in the grounds of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.
The head of the Institute was to be the Director, and the University, which selected the appointee, agreed to grant the status of Professor of Child Health to the person so appointed by the Government Department. The Chair of Child Health was the first Chair of Child Health or Paediatrics in any medical school in Australia. The University was indeed fortunate in the first incumbent – Professor Lorimer Dods. He started a number of important research projects, including the prevention programme against recurrences of rheumatic fever. He influenced many young physicians at the Hospital and is said to have greatly stimulated the development of modern, skilful, care of children.
Go to next article in timeline: The BSc (Med) Degree is Introduced in 1949