King’s Birthday Honours for Prof McArthur, Dr Beaumont
3 min read 12 June 2023
Peter Mac’s Professor Grant McArthur and Dr Sophie Beaumont have received 2023 King's Birthday Honours.
Professor McArthur has been recognised for distinguished service to medicine via his leadership roles, and as a cancer clinician and scientist focussed on melanoma.
He has been made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
The 2023 King's Birthday Honours for Australia were announced today, and Prof McArthur has been made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
At Peter Mac, Professor McArthur has been Head of the Molecular Oncology Laboratory and a senior Medical Oncologist directly caring for patients since 1998, has been Executive Director of the VCCC Alliance since 2017 and remains co-chair of the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Taskforce.
Professor McArthur is also a current Board member of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Co-chair of the International Melanoma Working Group and Vice-President, Melanoma World Society.
He has authored over 300 scientific publications and his public advocacy around the dangers of tanning - following the 2007 death of his patient Claire Oliver from melanoma – was a major driver for Australia’s ban on commercial solariums.
Peter Mac Chief Executive Professor Shelley Dolan has offered her congratulations on behalf of all Peter Mac staff, patients and families.
“This is a really welcome recognition of Professor McArthur’s outstanding, expert and generous leadership locally, nationally and internationally,” Professor Dolan says.
“Via his innovative research, direct patient care and public advocacy, Professor McArthur has improved both outcomes and the experience of care for skin cancer patients, and reduced the burden of this cancer in Australia. He is also a wonderful colleague and mentor to many.”
Dr Beaumont, Peter Mac’s Manager of Dental Oncology, has been recognised for her services to dentistry. She has received a Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Dr Beaumont is co-founder of the SugarFree Smiles initiative, has been a dentist in Peter Mac’s dental oncology team since 2017 and has headed the unit since 2018.
She is also founding Director and Secretary of the Yarta Foundation Australia, established in 2008 to provide disadvantaged children in India the opportunity to access quality education.
Several other health leaders who have made significant contributions to Peter Mac's work have also been recognised in the King's Birthday honours today.
Former Peter Mac Board Director and current Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Professor Jane Gunn was made an Officer in the General Division (AO) of the Order of Australia for her distinguished service to medical administration in leadership roles, to tertiary education and research, and to the community. Former Peter Mac Chief Executive, and current CEO of Silverchain Group Dale Fisher has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine, health care management, and nursing. Professor Rodney Hicks received an AM, for significant service to nuclear medicine through a range of international and national roles. Medical oncologist and clinician-researcher Professor John Zalcberg OAM has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for distinguished service to oncology and advocacy for those living with cancer.
Peter Mac extends very warm congratulations to all.