Pictured: Associate Professor William Connell
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne gastroenterologist, Associate Professor William Connell, has been awarded the Outstanding Clinician Award by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia.
A/Prof Connell has had a long and distinguished career in Gastroenterology, with his main area of interest in inflammatory bowel disease.
A/Prof Connell trained in Gastroenterology at the University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne before completing a Fellowship at St Mark’s Hospital, London.
He was appointed as a gastroenterologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, where he has held the position of Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Service for the last 25 years.
Under his leadership, the team have expanded their expertise to include a diverse range of skills, enabling it to be a vibrant research and patient-oriented service.
A/Prof Connell has overseen the creation of national IBD guidelines concerning the safe prescribing of biological drugs, and of IBD colorectal cancer surveillance in Australia.
Throughout this time, he has been a consistent advocate for IBD patients, and a vocal supporter of specialist IBD nurses throughout the country.
A/Prof Connell has mentored countless medical trainees and registrars who have been inspired to follow in his footsteps.
His passion and direction toward education has led to the St Vincent’s National IBD Symposium, now in its 25th year, which serves to disseminate knowledge to general gastroenterologists and improve the management of IBD patients.
He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, including the Lancet, Gastroenterology, and Gut and has contributed to important clinical research, which has resulted in changes in IBD management.
“When you look at past recipients of this award, it’s certainly an honour to be recognised along with such illustrious clinicians.
“My personal impact has simply been a contribution to the collective effort of a broader multidisciplinary IBD team of doctors, nurses, psychologists, dieticians and researchers working together at SVHM.
“Credit for the award really belongs to this marvellous group who provides such a fantastic, comprehensive service to the IBD community, in terms of the models of care it established, as well as its output in terms of research, education and advocacy,” said A/Prof Connell.