The RMH celebrates achievements at the Celebrating Excellence Awards 2024

Individuals and teams from across the organisation were recognised across 13 categories.

The RMH’s most prestigious award, The Melbourne Award, was presented by the RMH Chief Executive Prof Shelley Dolan to two recipients – Associate Professor Malcolm Hogg and Professor Jeff Szer AM.

The Melbourne Award is the RMH's highest achievement award and recognises the unique impact of individuals who over a significant period of time have embodied the RMH's values of People First, Lead with Kindness, and Excellence Together. 

A/Prof Hogg is recognised as an international leader in pain management. Across more than 20 years at the Royal Melbourne, he has made significant contributions as the head of the Pain Management service which provides both acute pain care, perioperative care and chronic pain clinics.

A/Prof Hogg has also grown a team recognised throughout Victoria and across Australia for their excellence.

“It’s a reflection of team effort. I have a team that works across our campuses and the unique part of our service is we do a lot of outreach," he said. 

"The philosophy has been take the service to the people, and train and educate others so you are integrating pain management principles into other services around the hospital and external to the hospital. This is a reflection of that development and growth over many years and a lot of people contributing, not just me." 

Prof Szer established and led the Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Service at the RMH from 1993 to 2005. He was then Professor/Director from 2006 to 2016 until its merger with Peter MacCallum Haematology to become a joint unit.

Prof Szer continues to practice as Australia’s most senior academic haematologist, conducting clinical research, mentoring haematologists and nurses, and serving the broader community through important external roles.

"It was truly humbling being recognised in this auspicious way by the organisation that has been home to me for 31 years," Prof Szer said. 

"I have loved being associated with, mentoring and hopefully helping so many fantastic people in so many disciplines over this period and I am looking forward to continuing on this path for as long as I can."

Also among the winners on Thursday night was the RMH’s Digital Coordination Centre (DCC), which received the award for Excellence in Improvement and Innovation, while Bradley Rapsey - who works within the DCC managing all non-emergency patient transport to and from the hospital - received the Next Generation Award.  

The DCC team uses real-time data to make sure patients get the care they need, when they need it. The data helps the team troubleshoot any issues with clinical teams on the floor and gives an extra support to coordinate care.