Medicine man’s hospital vision
A PASSIONATE voice and researcher behind some of the Far North’s greatest medical advancements is set to begin a new chapter after calling time on his 15-year career with James Cook University.
Smithfield Campus infections diseases expert Professor John McBride joined JCU in 2005, as the medicine program expanded to Cairns and Mackay. From heading up the Cairns Clinical School to groundbreaking infectious disease research and pandemic planning, Professor McBride has made his mark on medicine in the Far North.
During his time as head of the Clinical School, Professor McBride rode the wave of progress. The Cairns cohort expanded rapidly from just 15 students to more than 60. He said one of his biggest highlights was seeing students return as practising specialists.
“When you see … former students graduate, go away and work and then eventually return to the public or private hospital system in Cairns, it’s quite humbling,” he said.
“It’s great to see the gradual replacement of doctors and specialists who had come from outside of the region. Now there’s a growing percentage of our medical workforce populated by JCU graduates.”
Professor McBride’s passion for research stretches back to the early 80s when he worked as an army medical officer. After completing his payback years to the army, while living in Townsville, he completed infectious disease and tropical medicine training and decided to undertake a PhD.
It was during that time he caught the research bug.
In the months before officially starting with JCU, Professor McBride worked on a translational research project in New Guinea to roll out the prescription for the use of antiretroviral drugs in people with HIV. “I had a strong interest in HIV and I saw this as a great opportunity … to become a consultant, starting a program which was a short-term threemonth thing.”
Professor McBride went on to work through a number of disease outbreaks including dengue, SARS and the H1N1 flu, and was set to retire last year, before COVID-19 caught his attention. “I was leaving at a time of my choosing. But at the time there was a need, so I just shelved all the plans I had.
“A lot of the plans, mind you, would not have been possible anyway with COVID.”
Having bid the medicine class of 2020 farewell, in a very personal graduation-style ceremony in December, Professor McBride has turned his attention to the future. He will stay on at JCU as an Adjunct Professor and continue his hospital volunteer work.
“I’m on the board for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. It’s volunteer work that’s quite satisfying.”
A passion project he has in the works with the foundation is helping Cairns achieve University Hospital status.