Even war heroes sometimes need a hand and Melbourne neurosurgeon Jeffrey Rosenfeld has given that on more than one occasion.
The senior neurosurgeon at The Alfred hospital and director of the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering also finds time to be a major general with the Australian Defence Force.
He's visited Iraq twice, most recently in 2017 during the Battle for Mosul when he was based in a US-led hospital for months, performing surgery on injured Iraqi soldiers.
"The tragedy of war is something that lives with you for the rest of your life," Professor Rosenfeld said.
"It is a shocking environment to be in, but the pleasure for me is to be able to save lives."
The surgeon is one of three Victorian medical experts to be appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for efforts in their profession.
One of Prof Rosenfeld's greatest recent achievements was working with a team to develop a bionic vision device that helps restore sight.
While at the Royal Children's Hospital, he developed an operation that significantly improved the lives of youngsters living with a rare form of epilepsy.
Prof Rosenfeld will receive his honour on January 26, but says changing the date of Australia Day is a decision for the government and wider community.
"I'm very proud to receive the honour on Australia Day, whichever day that might be," he said.
Altona North general practitioner Mukesh Haikerwal and Surrey Hills academic psychiatrist David Kissane have also been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Dr Haikerwal has recovered from serious head injuries suffered in 2008 when he was attacked by thugs armed with a baseball bat.
The former federal president of the Australian Medical Association learned to walk and talk again and has returned to work.
He is being recognised for service to medical governance, administration, and technology, education and the not-for- profit sector, and has used the occasion to voice his support for multicultural Australia and struggles in health funding.
"It is a privilege to have as a basis, my foundation, the hard working people, the salt of the earth, the everyday folk who have come from every corner of the globe to live and work in our proudly diverse and multicultural region. They give so much to this great country," Dr Haikerwal said.
"Our daily continuing challenge is to provide high-quality, patient-centred, whole person, holistic, evidence-based care in a region with pitifully low levels of investment."
Professor Kissane, the Head of Psychiatry for Monash University, is receiving accolades for his work in psycho-oncology and palliative medicine as an educator, researcher, author and clinician.
Share
