Professor Euan Wallace honoured with VCRN Career Recognition Award

Dr Ryan Hodges, Prof Stuart Hooper,
Prof Euan Wallace, Prof Eric Morand

Professor Euan Wallace AM has been honoured for his outstanding record in clinical research and research training in perinatal medicine with a Career Recognition Award by the Victorian Clinician Researcher Network (VCRN).

Established by leading health and medical organisation Biomedical Research Victoria, the Victorian Clinician Researcher Network (VCRN) supports clinician researchers in medicine, nursing and allied health.

The VCRN award recognises individuals who have had substantial influence over their peers and colleagues as a supervisor and mentor and Professor Wallace was acknowledged as an outstanding clinician, researcher and peer.

Professor Wallace has dedicated his career to excellence in obstetrics and improving the quality of care for women and babies, as director of Obstetric Services at Monash Health, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University and co-head of The Ritchie Centre at the Hudson Institute.

“My experience in clinical research as an undergraduate at Edinburgh University was the inspiration for my career in obstetrics and gynaecology,” said Professor Wallace at the award ceremony last Friday at Monash Medical Centre.

“The important links between clinical care and research are exemplified by the model in place at the Monash Health Translational Precinct (MHTP).”

Professor Wallace emphasised the importance of ushering more trainee doctors towards clinical research, in order to broaden their practice.

“Clinicians who undertake research come back to us in the health service as better doctors even if they don’t pursue a career in research,” he said.

“The most rewarding part of my career has been growing the next generation of clinician-researchers and seeing them experience the joy that clinical research has been for me.”

Professor Wallace has personally cared for 7,000-8,000 women during their pregnancies at Monash Health, as well as authoring more than 230 published research papers and holding numerous leadership portfolios across Monash Health, the Victorian Government and Monash University. Under his leadership, Monash Health is now home to Victoria's largest maternity service.

“As former Head of The Ritchie Centre, Euan oversaw the Centre grow from a $1.2m dollar per year enterprise with 38 staff to a $9.5m enterprise with over 150 staff,” said Professor Stuart Hooper, current Executive Head of The Ritchie Centre. 

“In anybody’s words, that’s an outstanding achievement.”

The recipient of more than $22 million in research grants, Professor Wallace’s research has been extensively funded both by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and international funding agencies. He has particular clinical interests in recurrent miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, hypertension and fetal growth problems.

“Work is my life, it’s who I am. I love my work and it’s a privilege to come here to work every day.”

Professor Wallace dedicated the award to his wife, Karen who he said has been the most important person in his career.