Professor Jonathan Carapetis is stepping into Professor Fiona Stanley’s shoes as director of Perth’s Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. Widely regarded as one of Perth’s top child health researchers, founding institute director Professor Stanley has been at the helm for more than two decades.
She will retire at the end of the year, but will continue on as patron and a chief investigator on several research grants.
Professor Stanley said she was delighted by the appointment of Professor Carapetis, saying “Jonathon has outstanding credentials as both a researcher and a leader.”
A leading paediatrician and infectious diseases specialist, Professor Carapetis has been the director of the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin since 2006. Whilst there he has forged new directions in research and training regarding the problems in indigenous health.
In 2008 he was named Northern Territory Australian of the Year.
He has also made an international contribution and commitment to the reduction of rheumatic heart disease; a disease very prevalent in Australia.
Board Chairman, John Langoulant, said Professor Carapetis was a standout candidate in the international search for a new director ahead of the retirement of Professor Stanley.
“Jonathon has an outstanding record as an institute director, researcher, and clinician, combined with a deeply held passion to improve child health,” Mr Langoulant said.
“Given his broad experience, he is not only highly qualified for the position, he has demonstrated the leadership skills and vision we expect in a director of an institute like ours that has a strong connection with the WA community.”
“I’m very committed to ensuring that the Institute stays at the leading edge of child health research and sees the results of its work quickly translated into more effective treatments, preventative strategies and policies to improve the health and wellbeing of all children,” Professor Carapetis said.
The Institute’s director of Academic and Research Services, Professor Moira Clay, will be acting director in the interim until Professor Carapetis takes up his position in July 2012.