Rave reviews for our very own Dr Space Junk’s paperback debut, a heartfelt tribute for a student in shining armour, global accolade for our prince of paediatrics, and an interstate growth spurt for a Flinders success story that’s 10 years young.
Prince of paediatrics
Congratulations to Professor Kevin Forsyth, Dean People and Resources in the College of Medicine and Public Health, who has been appointed the global lead for academic paediatrics for the International Pediatric Association.
Professor Forsyth is also President of the International Pediatric Leaders group and Convener of the Global Pediatric Academic Alliance.
A paediatric immunologist with expertise in immune deficiency, his significant responsibilities reflect the strong influence Australia has – and Flinders in particular – in global child health. This leadership helps ensure good standards of training, which flows through to increased workforce competence and improved outcomes for children. Making a difference in Australia and all around the world.
Interstate success for MDPP
The initiative that’s building better bodies – from a motion simulating hexapod robot that revolutionised joint replacements to an exoskeleton device that has helped hand rehabilitation – our unique Medical Devices Partner Program is embarking on a national expansion.
Essentially an ideas incubator, the MDPP supports early stage innovation and technology development of devices that help us lead active lives for longer…and such is its success it has branched out to Victoria, with a gala launch that provided a welcome as warm as its Flowtherm technology which prevents hypothermia during surgery!
Read more about the celebrations here.
Dr Space Junk debuts in style
Dr Alice Gorman’s book Dr Space Junk vs The Universe: Archaeology and The Future (published by NewSouth Books) has been well-received by reviewers as a timely handbook to help the community understand the relevance and importance of Australia’s longstanding interaction with space projects.
It traces the deeper history of human interaction with space, and especially a rich South Australian engagement that Dr Gorman is worried most people have largely forgotten.
“In South Australia, we have forgotten our own Space Age,” says Dr Gorman.
“Australia was the third country in the world to launch satellites into space – and that since the Woomera rocket launches in the 1960s, SA has never stopped its association with space.
She says if Australia is to be successful in space with our new Australian Space Agency, understanding our space heritage is critical.
A book launch will be held on 23 April 2019.
Read more on the Flinders University news blog.
Kudos for Koby
Flinders business student Koby Gelven has the heartfelt gratitude of Adelaide couple Geoff and Cynthia Killian for the ‘knight in shining armour’ support he gave them last week.
Mr Killian, who has Parkinson disease, tripped and fell getting off a bus near Flinders hospital, where he ironically had an appointment with the falls clinic.
His wife says Koby supported her husband for the half an hour it took for an ambulance to arrive.
“We are so grateful for this lovely young man – Geoff couldn’t get up and it would have been painful and dangerous to lie down, so Koby physically held him up the whole time, even though this made him late for his class” she says.
“Several other students also stopped to make sure Geoff was okay, and we’re just so touched by their consideration. It’s given us a good feeling about the calibre of students at Flinders and a sense of hope that all will be right with the world.”
Mrs Killian says her husband was not seriously injured and has resumed his regular rehabilitation visits to the hospital.
“We just wanted to congratulate and thank Koby for being such a nice chap!”