King's Birthday Honours 2025: Private healthcare stalwarts recognised

Two leading private clinicians have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to Australian cancer care in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List.

Professor Mike Poulsen has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), while his Icon Group colleague Professor Gerald Fogarty has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

"These honours are a powerful reminder of the impact that innovation, integrity, and compassionate care can have on patients, their families, and the broader community," Icon Group CEO Mark Middleton said.

"Mike and Gerald exemplify what it means to deliver the best care possible, and we are incredibly proud to have them as part of the Icon family."

Prof Poulsen, one of Icon's founding members, was recognised for his significant service to radiation oncology as both a practitioner and researcher.

He has dedicated more than 35 years to improving cancer care across regional and metropolitan Australia, authoring over 150 peer-reviewed publications.

Prof Poulsen, who announced in January he will be retiring, was instrumental in pioneering innovative radiation therapies for skin cancer.

In 2020, he was awarded the RANZCR Roentgen Medal for his outstanding contribution to radiation oncology in Australia.

"Mike's impact on cancer care in this country is immeasurable," Mr Middleton said.

"His work in establishing radiation oncology services in Toowoomba, Cairns, and the Gold Coast has transformed access to treatment for countless regional Queenslanders.

"He is a compassionate, patient-centric clinician whose approachable nature and clinical expertise have earned him deep respect across the healthcare community."

Icon radiation oncologist Professor Gerald Fogarty

Prof Fogarty was recognised for his service to medical research, having become a nationally-recognised leader in skin cancer treatment and radiation oncology innovation in a career spanning more than two decades.

He has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications and played a key role in developing national skin cancer guidelines, serving on the board of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials
Group for nine years.

"Gerald's dedication to research and education has helped shape the future of skin cancer treatment in Australia," said Mr Middleton, who himself was awarded the OAM in 2022.

"His work has not only advanced clinical practice but also inspired the next generation of oncology professionals."

Other people from the private healthcare industry to be recognised in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List included the following:

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

• The late Adjunct Professor Murray Johns - for significant service to sleep medicine and research. He founded Epworth Hospital's Sleep Centre in 1988 and was its Director until 2002, developing world-renowned sleepiness and drowsiness scales.
• Professor Alistair George Royse - for significant service to medicine as a cardiothoracic surgeon, researcher, educator, and trainer. He has worked at Western Private Hospital in Melbourne since 2005 and at Epworth HealthCare from 1995-2020.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

• Wendy Thorpe, President of the Epworth HealthCare Board of Management since November 2021 – recognised for outstanding service to the financial services sector and leadership at some of Australia's largest organisations.
• The late Dr Allan Shell – For service to the Jewish community and to healthcare. He was Wolper Jewish Hospital's first Honorary Life Member in 2017, having begun his service there in 1980 as a Visiting Medical Officer before joining its Board of Directors in 1997.
• Deborah Hutton - for service to community health and to media. She is an ambassador for private cancer care provider Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Sydney.
• Former Mayo Private Hospital gynaecologist Dr Philip Walkom - for service to the communities of Manning Valley and Great Lakes in a career spanning more than 40 years.

Read more: APHA president honoured in 2023 King's list

Read more: Queen's Birthday honour for Icon CEO

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