May 12, 2022

Dean of Graduate Medicine appointed

Professor Zsuzsoka Kecskes brings strong record as academic, leader and neonatologist to the role

The University of Wollongong has appointed prominent neonatologist and academic Professor Zsuzsoka Kecskes as its Dean of Graduate Medicine.

Professor Kecskes comes to UOW from the Australian National University where she has earned a rich record of achievements and accolades as an academic, leader and a neonatologist.  She will commence the new role in August.

“As a leader for Medicine at ANU for a few years I have worked with colleagues from UOW and have been impressed by their passion and dedication to medical education and research,” Professor Kecskes said.

“UOW’s strategic goals – ‘Empowering our students for their future’, ‘Creating knowledge for a better world’ and ‘Making a difference for our communities’ – encompasses everything I would wish and envision for a Medical School, and spoke to me when I heard about this exciting job opportunity.

“I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work with colleagues from Medicine, the Faculty, the University and health services to continue to build and strengthen education, research and partnerships to make the Graduate School a first choice for future doctors, higher degree students and staff.”

Professor Kecskes has served as Dean of ANU Medical School since March 2020, leading the School through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and working closely with students and colleagues from the Medical School as well as the Research School of Psychology to develop a draft structure for ANU’s future School of Medicine and Psychology.

Prior to that, Professor Kecskes was ANU Medical School’s Deputy Dean from 2018 to 2020, and Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) of Phase 2 from 2015 to 2018. She began her long associated with ANU in 2001, initially as an honorary lecturer. She developed the neonatal curriculum at the Medical School, which was implemented when the School was founded.

In addition, Professor Kecskes developed a quality and safety curriculum and was Chair of the Professionalism and Leadership theme in Phase 2 at the Medical School, for which the team was acknowledged through a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Professor Kecskes has worked as a neonatologist in Canberra since 2001 and was a leading figure in the design and development of the neonatal intensive care unit at Canberra’s Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

The ACT Australia Day Council named her as the ACT Australian of the Year 2014 for her work with families to design a safe, family-centred Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Canberra Hospital, and the implementation of the NICUcam, a web-based design for parents and families to view their baby when they are not able to visit.

At Canberra Health Services, Professor Kecskes is known for her involvement in health wide committees, such as chairing the Aged Care Quality Standards Health Care Standard 2 (Partnering for Consumers) for many years, the Clinical Ethics Committee since 2013 and the Policy Committee since 2014, thereby improving systems across the organisation.

Professor Kecskes received her degree in medicine from the University of Hamburg and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Queensland. 

Her research interests are in neonatology (specifically the neonatal brain), higher education and patient centred care.

The Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health warmly welcomes Professor Kecskes as the Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine.