Learn more about our history below.
In 1987, Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital joined Prince Henry’s Hospital and Moorabbin Hospital to form Monash Medical Centre. The Southern Health Care Network (later Southern Health, now Monash Health) was formed by the addition of Dandenong Hospital in 1995. The Microbiology Laboratory was initially based at Prince Henry’s Hospital, relocating to the new Clayton campus in 1987.
In 1986, John Turnidge was appointed as the foundation Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases & Microbiology at Monash Medical Centre. John introduced the concept of an Infectious Diseases consultation service, including Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care. Under John’s leadership, the department developed an international reputation with expertise in pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Wendy Munckhof completed a PhD under John’s supervision. Many important projects were coordinated by the indefatigable Jan Bell, including the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program. In 1996 John Turnidge returned to Adelaide as Director, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and is now Head, Microbiology, SA Pathology.
In 1991, Lindsay Grayson was appointed as Infectious Diseases physician, then Deputy Director, and Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology in 1996 after the departure of John Turnidge. Lindsay further developed the Monash Infectious Diseases clinical service, pioneered outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy via a Hospital In the Home program and promoted clinical research. In 1996 Paul Johnson was appointed as Infectious Diseases physician and later Deputy Director. Important research areas included VRE and mycobacterial infections. Alex Padiglione and Rhonda Stuart completed PhDs. In 2001 Lindsay Grayson and Paul Johnson moved to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Hospital, along with Libby Grabsch, who made a great contribution as our inaugural Senior Scientist.
In 2000, Tony Korman was appointed as full-time Infectious Diseases physician, and in 2002 was appointed as Director. Ian Woolley was appointed as an Infectious Diseases physician in 2002 and later Deputy Director. Kumar Visvanathan joined in 2002 and Rhonda Stuart returned in 2005.
In 2023, Allen Cheng was appointed as Professor/Director of Monash Infectious Diseases. Allen is an academic clinician and epidemiologist/biostatistician. His research interests include observational and clinical trials in infectious diseases, primarily in respiratory infections and hospital infection control. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was closely involved in providing technical advice to Commonwealth and Victorian governments, including as Deputy Victorian Chief Health Officer (2020-21).
Monash Infectious Diseases Registrars and Fellows
We are proud of the Infectious Diseases Registrars and Fellows who have undertaken their advanced training at Monash Infectious Diseases, and now are Infectious Diseases physicians in prominent roles in Australia and in the USA.