It is with sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of public health expert and Flinders academic Professor Kristine Gebbie.

Professor Gebbie came to Flinders University after a distinguished career in public service in the United States, including roles as Secretary of the Washington State Department of Health and Director of Oregon Department of Health.

A stalwart support of the Torrens Resilience Initiative, Professor Gebbie was also a leading contributor to the Initiative’s efforts through her work as a member of the Advisory Board and through supervision of doctoral students. She focussed principally on nursing in crisis and disaster, including the recent re-development of the Disaster Nursing Competencies for the International Council of Nurses.

Her experiences and reflections on CBRNe (Anthrax) responses and management of the health response to the eruption of Mount St Helens have been of immense value for her students and colleagues.

She was also the first US AIDS Czar, from 1993 to 1994 in the Clinton White House, and more recently served as President of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine during her tenure at Flinders University.

Our thoughts are with Professor Gebbie’s family and friends at this time.

An online memorial site has been established, if you wish to leave a tribute: https://www.forevermissed.com/kristine-moore-gebbie/about?utm_source=fm_emails&utm_medium=gmail.com&utm_campaign=createMemorialWelcome&utm_content=visit