Foundation Directors CHAIRMAN IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Alan Skurrie, BCom Ronald J Walker, AO, CBE SECRETARY Professor Wayne Morrison, MD, BS FRACS Geoffrey Renton, BHA (UNSW), FACHSE, MNIA, AFAIM DIRECTORS Professor James Angus BSc (Hons), PhD Sir Roderick Carnegie, MA(Oxon), MBA(Harvard) Tony Charlton, OAM Ivan Deveson, AO John Haddad, AM, FCIA Diana Jones, AM Rosemary Leffler Leon L’Huillier,, BCom(Melb), MPhil(Lon), MBA (Chicago), FAIM Allan MacLeod MB, BS, FRACS Josephine O’Brien BA, BArch (Hons) Mr Doug Provis Geoffrey Stephenson, BA Dr Clive Wellington Dean Wills, AO 3
Chairman’s Report <strong>Microsurgery</strong> Foundation MICROSURGERY FOUNDATION The mission of the <strong>Microsurgery</strong> Foundation is to support financially the Bernard O’Brien <strong>Institute</strong> of <strong>Microsurgery</strong>. Public awareness of the work of the <strong>Institute</strong> and its plastic and reconstructive surgery and hand surgery team at St Vincent’s Hospital is largely through the reattachment of amputated body parts. Less well known is its sophisticated and expert microsurgical reconstruction of patients after cancer removal from breasts, head and neck, skin and bone cancers, etc. A steady stream of surgeons from around the world constantly come to train at the <strong>Institute</strong> and return to their own countries to adopt these new techniques. The <strong>Microsurgery</strong> Foundation is a dedicated group of business and professional people who, since its inception in 1970, have been responsible for raising funds for research, equipment and building infrastructure. It has established several scientific and surgical fellowships which attract highly qualified international candidates. The Foundation is a public company limited by guarantee, has no share capital and declares no dividend. AWARD We congratulate Professor Wayne Morrison on being awarded the Tattersalls Achievement Award in October 1997 for his work with the face and scalp replantation on a young woman from central Victoria. This operation received worldwide publicity and graphically demonstrated that new research developed at the O’Brien <strong>Institute</strong> can be applied directly for the benefit of patients. FUND RAISING On behalf of the Board I wish to thank those trusts, benefactors, corporate bodies and individuals who have supported us throughout the year. We have listed their wonderful donations and the research they sponsored in this report. The Board is very grateful for your generosity. A major priority in the future is to enhance the funding drive and establish new fellowship schemes in order to continue important research work and training. The humanitarianism of the Transport Accident Commission, under the Chairmanship of Margaret Jackson, in their ongoing support of funded projects into trauma deserves special mention. This wonderful gesture has allowed us to carry on research into tissue and limb protection and reconstruction following trauma. This research aims to minimise the severity of the initial injury, accelerate the rate of recovery and improve the quality of the results. The National Australia Bank has again given a Surgical Research Fellowship this year. This will assist in the training of microsurgeons in microsurgical research and techniques to benefit the community. PAIN RESEARCH AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT A multidisciplinary centre for acute and chronic pain management has commenced at St Vincent’s Hospital. It focuses on patient care, educational programs and research. Research will be conducted through the Bernard O’Brien <strong>Institute</strong> of <strong>Microsurgery</strong>. The director is Dr Andrew Muir and already it is fulfilling a major community need. The initiative for this centre largely came from Barbara Walker who, because of her own experience of pain and through her public profile raised awareness of the silent epidemic of pain sufferers. The centre has received expert guidance and support from Professor Michael Cousins, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, and generous start-up funding from Victorian WorkCover Authority. The centre will be opened by The Hon John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, on 16 December, 1998. BOARD MEMBERS Members devoted their time to the Business Plan to place the Foundation and the Pain Research Centre in a prominent place for the Year 2000 and beyond. They worked continuously during the year considering policy, finance, fund raising and the future of the Foundation. During the year Professor James Angus, Mr Allan MacLeod and Ms Josephine O’Brien (daughter of Mr Bernard O’Brien) joined the Board. We welcome our new members and look forward to their deliberations. These appointments followed the resignation of Emeritus Professor Gerard Crock, Dr John Connell, Mr Marc Besen, Mr Keith Dawson and Ms Norma Tullo. I would like to sincerely thank these Directors for their contribution over the years in providing leadership and guidance to the Foundation. The Board has made Dr John Connell and Mr Marc Besen Members of the Foundation. Professor Gerard Crock and Dr John Connell have been appointed to the Scientific Committee of Bernard O’Brien <strong>Institute</strong> of <strong>Microsurgery</strong>. We were all saddened to learn of the passing of our esteemed Board member and colleague, Mrs Jeanette Edwards, in April 1998. Our dedication to Jeanette is on the inside back cover. THE PAST We have commissioned a history of 30 years of <strong>Microsurgery</strong>, from 1970 through to 2000. Dean of Creative Arts, University of Melbourne, Associate Professor Angela O’Brien, will provide assistance in compiling this document. 4
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