New Clinical Research Fellowships named after two St Vincent’s clinicians

From left: Prof Jane Gunn, A/Prof Paul Desmond, A/Prof Sybil McAuley, Dr Elizabeth Paratz, A/Prof Wilma Beswick and SVHM Chief Executive Nicole Tweddle.

Two new clinical research fellowships awarded in March have been named in honour of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne clinicians.

The Wilma Beswick Clinical Research Fellowship was awarded to Dr Elizabeth Paratz and the Paul Desmond Clinical Research Fellowship was awarded to Associate Professor Sybil McAuley.

The new positions provide an opportunity for St Vincent’s clinicians to make significant and innovative contributions in the areas of academic leadership, research and teaching. They also promote collaboration between the Department of Medicine at University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

Strengthening partnerships

For over a century, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has worked with the University of Melbourne to attain excellence in academic research, teaching and clinical practice.

As a tertiary academic health service, it's our research that underpins our evidence-based clinical services, and the tenacity of our clinicians and researchers is key to delivering on our Mission to provide excellent and compassionate care to those most in need.

Our collective ambition is for St Vincent’s to lead the way in connecting science, health and engineering to tackle our most complex health challenges.

Cementing a lasting legacy

Not only does the creation of the named fellowships symbolise the significance of our partnerships, but it also recognises the contribution our clinicians make to the development, training and education of junior doctors and the provision of exceptional patient-centred care.

Both Associate Professor Wilma Beswick and Associate Professor Paul Desmond have had long and distinguished careers in medicine, each receiving a Member of the Order of Australia for their outstanding service.

Associate Professor Wilma Beswick is St Vincent's Hospital's Director of General Medicine. In her 20-plus years as Dean of the Clinical School at St Vincent’s, Prof Beswick has helped to yield exceptional results by reorganising undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at the hospital.

Throughout her career, Prof Beswick also served as the Chief Medical Officer at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and the Director of Physician Training for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Associate Professor Paul Desmond is a gastroenterologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. After completing his training in gastroenterology at St Vincent's Hospital and at Vanderbilt University, A/Prof Desmond is now an active clinical researcher and educator, having supervised over 30 Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students at the Department of Medicine over his tenure.

His previous roles have included Clinical Director of Medical and Specialist Services at St Vincent’s Hospital and President Gastroenterological Society of Australia.