Academic's parting shot for La Trobe

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Just for those who haven't caught up wth the news yet. The Dean Of Health Sciences at LaTrobe Prof Stephen Duckett is leaving to fix Queensland Health

Full Story in The Age

 

He has been a big supporter of Podiatry at LTU and the profession in general. That support will be missed at LTU....but hopefully will be the profession's gain in Queensland, given the key role he will be taking there to get the Beatie Govt's health system out of the mess its in.

I wonder who leaked the internal email he sent to all staff to the media

 

I would like to echo Craig's comments.

There's no doubt that Stephen would ruffle a few feathers every now and again but I think most respected him for his constant work and his generation of ideas.

As Dean, even though I have only been at La Trobe for five years, I have always found him to be an interesting man of great intelect. He has always been able to challenge the minds of the staff.

As Craig said, his support of podiatry at LTU will be missed, but unlike our VC we wish him well in his new role at Queensland Health.

 

By crikey there are some echoes in the halls of La Trobe...for I too regret the sudden loss of Stephen Duckett. Being in a meeting with him was often more like being trapped in a cage with a ferret who has a brain the size of a planet - terrifying and stimulating at the same time. But one thing Professor Duckett did was see the potential of podiatry, and work with us and for us in a University environment that does not always treasure the non-elite courses.

Interestingly, he supported podiatry not because he had an ingrown toenail (which is, of course, an excellent way to lobby politicians - cure them and they'll love you forever). As an economist he realised the potential of podiatry to provide economically feasible and appropriate health care in a marketplace that cannot afford medicine as the dominant provider.

Well, we at La Trobe will wait and see.....

 

I am now hoping Prof Duckett is regretting the decision to go to Queensland .... ... have you seen the headlines from Queensland today? :

Ipswich Hospital emergency dept may close, Opposition says
Hospital reaches patient capacity
Qld Govt meets AMA over doctor crisis
Dengue fever resurfaces in Townsville

Unfortunatly, from what I know of him, he will see this as nothing more than a challenge...