AMA Awards 2006 Excellence in Health Care

The 2006 AMA Excellence in Health Care Award was awarded to Professor Creswell J Eastman, AM.

The award is made to an individual - not necessarily a doctor - who has made a significant contribution to improving health or health care in Australia.

Prof Eastman boasts a long list of eminent appointments and awards over the course of his 40-year career.

He's advised everybody from hospital boards to the Chinese Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Recently retired as the Director of the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Prof Eastman has won this year's award for his demonstrated achievement in health care service to Australia and to humanity at large, especially in China, Tibet and the Asia Pacific.

AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said Prof Eastman's contribution to controlling and eliminating Iodine Deficiency Disease (IDD) internationally is truly outstanding.

"Professor Eastman has been actively working to eliminate IDD in China for more than two decades, including fundraising to establish a National IDD Laboratory and training its staff," Dr Haikerwal said.

"At the behest of the WHO he designed a project to eliminate IDD in Tibet which has proved to be an extraordinary success, earning him the moniker 'the man who saved a million brains'.

"At home in Australia, Professor Eastman undertook the National Iodine Nutrition Survey from 2003 to 2005, confirming that iodine deficiency has re-emerged in this nation.

"This work has recently been published in the Medical Journal of Australia and has convinced the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council and Food Standards Australia New Zealand of the necessity for iodine fortification of edible salt.

"Professor Eastman's contribution to academic and clinical medicine in Australia are widely acknowledged and highly respected.

"I congratulate him on winning this year's Excellence in Health Care Award."