The Australian Department Defence has today entered a Strategic Alliance with The University of Queensland which will see the establishment of a Chair of Military Surgery in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Lieutenant General David Hurley, Vice Chief of the Defence Force said the opportunity to establish the inaugural Chair of Military Surgery was an excellent initiative.
"It is both welcome and timely,” he said.
The establishment of a Chair of Military Surgery at The University of Queensland recognises a need to enhance the profile and skills of our military surgeons. It creates the opportunity for a lasting high profile and internationally prominent partnership which will strengthen, shape and lead military surgery, research and training.
The activities of the new Chair as well as the program of research undertaken are expected over time to significantly improve the resuscitative and emergency care of service men and women in the field.
The new Chair will provide academic scrutiny and rigour to resuscitative and emergency care on the battlefield.
"The inaugural Chair will focus on the unique requirements of Defence in pre-hospital care, trauma, burns, damage control, resuscitation and surgery,” said Major General Alexander, Surgeon General Australian Defence Force.
“With the University now in its 100th year, it is wonderful that the Chair could be established this year,” he said.
The Chair of Military Surgery will have close links with the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health, which has a headquarters based at UQ, as well as the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals.
Major General Alexander said that the Strategic Alliance with Queensland Health executed today, and the links with the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals would further enhance the significance for Defence of the establishment of a Chair of Military Surgery.
