Elimination of Viral Hepatitis - Prof Margaret Hellard AM & Frank Carlus

Rotary Melbourne Podcast

"The Elimination of Viral Hepatitis as a Public Health Threat – Think Global, Start Local." Professor Margaret Hellard AM is a Deputy Director at the Burnet Institute, Head of Hepatitis Services in the Infectious Diseases Unit at The Alfred Hospital and an Adjunct Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia. Professor Hellard was recently awarded an Order of Australia. Margaret’s principal research interests are in preventing the transmission and improving the management of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections, with the ultimate aim to end the AIDS epidemic and eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat. She has considerable experience in undertaking multidisciplinary community based research involving people who inject drugs (PWID), gay and bisexual men (GBM) and other vulnerable populations. Margaret is a member of numerous advisory committees and working groups on viral hepatitis and HIV within Australia and globally, including Co-Chairing the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on HIV and Viral Hepatitis and Chairing the World Innovation Health Summit Viral Hepatitis Forum (20198).. She has over 400 peer reviewed publications and received over $80 million in competitive grants and tenders. Frank Carlus - President Hepatitis Victoria Frank is a former state public servant with over 32 years’ experience in the Department of Human Services/Department of Health. In that time he worked in direct care, policy and senior management positions across a range of services. He has served on the Board of Hepatitis Victoria since 2013 in various roles including Treasurer and President. He also sits on, and is current Chair of, the Board of Westgate Community Initiatives Group (a disability services employment provider). Previously he served on the Colac District Hospital for 10 years, including as President for 2 years.