University of Western Australia
Associate Professor Christine Jeffries-Stokes, a paediatrician from UWA’s Rural Clinical School of WA, was one of 18 UWA-affiliated staff and alumni recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Associate Professor Jeffries-Stokes received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service as a paediatrician, to rural and remote medicine, and to the Indigenous community.
Image: Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes and her grandchild Geoffrey Jilba. Picture: Carwyn Monck.
Associate Professor Jeffries-Stokes is co-lead investigator of the Western Desert Kidney Health Project, which found nitrate-contaminated drinking water was a contributing factor to higher-than-expected rates of kidney disease and type 2 diabetes in the Goldfields.
"The water in many remote areas is pretty terrible and it's probably a very significant contributing factor not only to kidney disease and diabetes, but all the other diseases we talk about in closing the gap," Dr Jeffries-Stokes said.
Associate Professor Jeffries-Stokes, MPH '97, PhD '17, is one of nine alumni, staff and former staff who were recognised with an AM.
Dr Janice Bell, '77, GradDipEd '78, BEd '81, MBBS '94, received an AM for significant service to general practice medicine, and to medical education and training.
Suzanne Ardagh, BA '85, was recognised with an AM for significant service to business, the arts, and the community,
Vanessa Marie Elliott, GradCertBus '15, received an AM for significant service to the Indigenous community, mining industry, and public administration.
Denis William McLeod, LLB '67, BA '72, MPhil '93, was recognised with an AM for significant service to the law, urban planning, and the community of Western Australia.
Associate Professor Carolyn Quadrio, MBBS '67, received an AM for significant service to psychiatry as a clinician, academic and mentor.
Peter Rossdeutscher was recognised with an AM for significant service to business, digital inclusion, and the innovation and technology commercialisation sectors.
Professor Peter Vernon Van Heerden received an AM for significant service to intensive care medicine, professional associations, and tertiary education.
Professor Brett McDermott was recognised with an AM for significant service to medicine in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Nine alumni, staff and former staff were recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Clinical Professor Asha Bowen, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Perth Children's Hospital, received an OAM for service to medicine in the field of clinical diseases.
“For the past 15 years we’ve been really focused on how we think about achieving healthy skin — predominantly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids and families — to prevent many of the downstream consequences that arise if skin is not well cared for,” Professor Bowen said.
Dr David William Smith, BMedSc '78, MBBS '80, received an OAM for service to medicine in the field of microbiology.
Dr David Speers, BSc '84, MBBS '89, was recognised with an OAM for service to medicine as a microbiologist.
Carolyn Ingvarson, GradDipEd '65, received an OAM for service to conservation, and the community of Boroondara.
The late Brian McKittrick, GradDipEd '65, was recognised with an OAM for service to secondary education.
Gino Monaco, LLB '68, received an OAM for service to the Italian community of Fremantle.
Catia Malaquias, LLB, BA '00, was recognised with an OAM for service to people with disability.
Dr Mark O'Connor, PhD '16, received an OAM for service to literature as a poet and educator.
Distinguished Professor and former Dean of the UWA Law School Stuart Kaye received an OAM for service to international law, and to tertiary education.
The King’s Birthday Honours list recognises and celebrates the outstanding contribution of Australians.