Dr Anselm Wong awarded the Mollie Holman Medal for 2018

Dr. Anselm Wong, a clinical toxicologist and emergency physician with the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, is the recipient of the 2018 Mollie Holman Medal for excellence in his doctoral studies, and a recent finalist in the 2019 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research.

Dr. Anselm Wong with Health Minister,
The Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP, at the Premier's Health
and Medical Research Awards 2019.
Photo courtesy of the Victorian Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Established in 1998, the Mollie Holman Medal is named after the late pioneering physiologist Emeritus Professor Mollie Homan AO, in honour of her significant contributions to science and education. These medals are among the highest academic honours, and mark the recipients as researchers of the higher order. The medal is awarded to doctoral students who have fulfilled their degree requirements and presented their faculty’s best thesis of the year.

Dr.Wong’s PhD concentrated on improving risk prediction and management of paracetamol overdose, the most common medication overdose in the world. While suicide and overdose affect all age groups, it is most often young individuals who are at risk. He studied a novel treatment regimen which has decreased adverse reactions secondary to the antidote. The new treatment protocol will form part of national guidelines and is already being utilised and continuously adopted in other countries. Anselm’s PhD also involved identifying low risk patients that could benefit from shorter treatment times in hospital which was shown in a clinical trial. His studies were completed with the assistance of his supervisors Professor Andis Graudins and Professor David Taylor.

“This award is recognition of the importance of continuing work to improve care of one of the most vulnerable of patient groups” said Dr. Wong.

Anselm aims to continue his work with 2 new clinical trials and a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship with the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

Congratulations, Anselm on your outstanding achievement.