29 November 2006

New Graduate School of Medicine recruit announced

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos announced today that Professor Wilf Yeo of the University of Sheffield has been appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of Wollongong's (UOW) new Graduate School of Medicine.

Mr Hatzistergos said Professor Yeo will take up one of four professorial positions co-funded by South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health, when the Graduate School of Medicine opens its doors to its first students next year.

The curriculum of UOW's Graduate School of Medicine is modelled on the University of Sheffield's medical school.

"Securing Professor Yeo is a real coup for Wollongong," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"With his strong knowledge of that curriculum and its implementation in Sheffield, Prof Yeo will be an invaluable addition to the already impressive academic staff the University of Wollongong has appointed to its new medical school."

As well as his teaching and research role at the university, Professor Yeo will take an active role as a clinician, managing patients within SESIH mainly at Wollongong Hospital.

Mr Hatzistergos said 48-year-old Prof Yeo has already established an outstanding clinical and academic career specialising in general medicine, including pharmacology and therapeutics. His particular research interest is in hypertension and he has edited a number of medical textbooks and had many articles published in medical journals.

Professor Yeo will be in Australia to take up his position in February, at the beginning of the 2007 academic year.

Local members Noreen Hay, Matt Brown, Marianne Saliba and Labor candidate for Shellharbour Lylea McMahon all welcomed the professor's appointment.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au