Epworth Victor Smorgon Chair of Surgery and Professor of Surgery

Epworth and The University of Melbourne have established an endowed Chair of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

Professor Richard de Steiger

Professor Richard de Steiger has been appointed Victor Smorgon Chair of Surgery and Professor of Surgery, by Epworth and the University of Melbourne. A renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Chair of the Musculoskeletal Clinical Institute, Professor de Steiger has a special interest in hip and knee joint replacement, and the management of adult hip disorders.

Professor de Steiger's role is multifaceted, with numerous responsibilities, including:

  • defining the objectives and goals for surgical services
  • ensuring all surgical service commitments to patient care
  • fostering excellence in research
  • maintaining teaching and research
  • professional activities and policy development related to surgery

He also holds the position of Deputy Director of the Australian Orthopaedic Association - National Joint Replacement Registry and is a principal investigator with the Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry.

A/Prof Gavin Williams

A/Prof Gavin Williams is the inaugural Associate Professor of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation, a joint position between Epworth Healthcare and The University of Melbourne. A/Prof Gavin Williams is a world leader in the assessment and treatment of gait disorders in traumatic brain injury and his assessment tool, the High-level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT), is used all around the world and has been translated into 10 languages. His related intervention program, the ‘Running Group’, has also been adopted internationally.

His research expertise and interests include;

  • assessment and management of neurological gait disorders, including brain injury, stroke and cerebral palsy
  • development of outcome measures for rehabilitation
  • focal spasticity
  • treatment of high-level mobility including running and return to sport
  • strength and power training for people with neurological disorders
  • knowledge translation and implementation programs

A/Prof Gavin Williams supports a number of PhD students in these areas, and in 2017 established a research fund - PRoSpER (Physiotherapy ReSearch Epworth Rehabilitation) – to support clinical research in physiotherapy at Epworth Healthcare.

For information regarding PRoSpER events, please send an email to: [email protected]