The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine
Encyclopedia
The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) is an Australasia
n medical association.
It was founded on 29 May 1991 at a meeting of 10 interested clinicians, scientists and researchers at the Anton Breinl Centre
in Townsville
, Australia
. Professor Peter A. Leggat, the College's Inaugural Honorary Secretary (1991-96), and Professor Rick Speare, the College's Inaugural President (1991-96), are generally acknowledged as the founder and co-founder of the College, respectively. Rick Speare passed the presidency on to Professor Peter A. Leggat (1996-98), who went on to serve a further two terms as President (2002-04 and 2006-08). Other Presidents of the College have included Professor John M. Goldsmid (1998-2000), Dr. John L. Heydon (2000-02), Dr. Ken D. Winkel (2004-06), Associate Professor Tim Inglis (2008-10), and Associate Professor David Porter (2010-12).
Since that time, more than 600 of the most distinguished clinicians, scientists and researchers in the field of tropical medicine
coming from more than 30 countries have become Fellows, Members, Associates or Affiliates of the College. It has become the preeminent professional organisation in tropical medicine
in the Australasia
n region. Formerly, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
(RSTM&H) was the only professional organisation representing the professional interests of those working in tropical medicine
in Australasia
. The RSTM&H still has approximately 100 members in Australasia
and the ACTM and the RSTM&H have co-hosted joint activities in recent years, including a joint Scientific Meeting in 1997 and the RSTM&H Centennial Lecture series commemorating the Centenary of the RSTM&H in 2007 and the Centenary of Tropical Medicine in Australia in 2010. The ACTM is affiliated with the International Federation for Tropical Medicine (IFTM) and now represents member organisations of the IFTM in Australia.
and is working with professionals to help manage the global burden of tropical disease
and injury through networking, research and development.
The Aims of the College are to:
Today the ACTM is a multi-disciplinary College, which incorporates a Faculty of Travel Medicine
(FTM), a Joint Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine (see Wilderness medicine
) with the Faculty of Travel Medicine
, and Standing Committees on Medical Parasitology
and Zoonotic Diseases, Publications, Toxinology
and Disaster
Health, as well as dealing with its core business of tropical medicine
. The current Chair of the Faculty of Travel Medicine is Dr. Matthew Klein. The current Chairs of the Standing Committees on Medical Parasitology
and Zoonoses, Toxinology
, Disaster
Health and Publications are Dr. Richard Bradbury, Dr. Ken D. Winkel, Dr. Vlas Efstathis and Professor Derek R. Smith, respectively. The Foundation Chairperson of the Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine is Associate Professor Marc Shaw.
or a related field, usually by way of publications, but other contributions are also considered. Applicants for membership of the FTM (and its Joint Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine) may also have a pass in a relevant examination in travel medicine
considered. Applications are made on prescribed membership application forms, which can be obtained from the ACTM Secretariat. The ACTM Secretriat is based at AMA House in Brisbane, Australia.
Fellows, Members and Associates of the ACTM are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FACTM, MACTM and AACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the College are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FACTM and Hon. MACTM, respectively. Notable Honorary Fellows of the College include Frank Fenner
, Fred Hollows
, and Struan Sutherland
. Notable Honorary Members of the College include the Anton Breinl Centre
, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
and the World Safety Organization
.
Fellows, Associate Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters FFTM ACTM, AFFTM ACTM and MFTM ACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FFTM ACTM and Hon. MFTM ACTM, respectively.
New members may receive their College testamurs at a Convocation
of the College. The first Convocation was held in 1994 and Convocation XX was held in 2008. College awards and honours are also presented at these Convocations, usually held during a Scientific Meeting of the College.
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n medical association.
It was founded on 29 May 1991 at a meeting of 10 interested clinicians, scientists and researchers at the Anton Breinl Centre
Anton Breinl Centre
The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine is a constituent discipline of the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, and specialises in public health and tropical medicine...
in Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Professor Peter A. Leggat, the College's Inaugural Honorary Secretary (1991-96), and Professor Rick Speare, the College's Inaugural President (1991-96), are generally acknowledged as the founder and co-founder of the College, respectively. Rick Speare passed the presidency on to Professor Peter A. Leggat (1996-98), who went on to serve a further two terms as President (2002-04 and 2006-08). Other Presidents of the College have included Professor John M. Goldsmid (1998-2000), Dr. John L. Heydon (2000-02), Dr. Ken D. Winkel (2004-06), Associate Professor Tim Inglis (2008-10), and Associate Professor David Porter (2010-12).
Since that time, more than 600 of the most distinguished clinicians, scientists and researchers in the field of tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
coming from more than 30 countries have become Fellows, Members, Associates or Affiliates of the College. It has become the preeminent professional organisation in tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
in the Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n region. Formerly, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and George Carmichael Low. Sir Patrick Manson, the Society's first President is generally acknowledged as the father of tropical medicine. He passed the presidency on to the Nobel laureate Sir Ronald Ross ,...
(RSTM&H) was the only professional organisation representing the professional interests of those working in tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
. The RSTM&H still has approximately 100 members in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and the ACTM and the RSTM&H have co-hosted joint activities in recent years, including a joint Scientific Meeting in 1997 and the RSTM&H Centennial Lecture series commemorating the Centenary of the RSTM&H in 2007 and the Centenary of Tropical Medicine in Australia in 2010. The ACTM is affiliated with the International Federation for Tropical Medicine (IFTM) and now represents member organisations of the IFTM in Australia.
Aims of the College
The College is committed to the development of tropical medicineTropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
and is working with professionals to help manage the global burden of tropical disease
Tropical disease
Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
and injury through networking, research and development.
The Aims of the College are to:
- Encourage continuing education and the exchange of knowledge in tropical medicine;
- Collaborate with other organisations in conducting activities of mutual concern, interest and direction in tropical medicine;
- Promote research in tropical medicine;
- Strive for professionalism and competence among its members and those specialising in and entering into the field of tropical medicine; and
- Maintain a historical collection of items relevant to the development of tropical medicine in Australasia.
Today the ACTM is a multi-disciplinary College, which incorporates a Faculty of Travel Medicine
Faculty of Travel Medicine
The Faculty of Travel Medicine of The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine is an Australasian medical association.: It was founded on 9 March 2000 by the ACTM College Council.Faculty Chairs have included Professor Peter A...
(FTM), a Joint Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine (see Wilderness medicine
Wilderness medicine
Wilderness medicine is defined by difficult patient access, limited equipment, and environmental extremes. Today, wilderness or expedition medicine is practiced by Wilderness First Responders, Wilderness EMTs, Remote/Offshore/Wilderness Paramedics and Physicians on expeditions, in outdoor...
) with the Faculty of Travel Medicine
Faculty of Travel Medicine
The Faculty of Travel Medicine of The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine is an Australasian medical association.: It was founded on 9 March 2000 by the ACTM College Council.Faculty Chairs have included Professor Peter A...
, and Standing Committees on Medical Parasitology
Parasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
and Zoonotic Diseases, Publications, Toxinology
Toxinology
Toxinology is the specialized area of science that deals specifically with animal, plant, and microbial toxins. Prof. Dietrich Mebs has defined toxinology as "the scientific discipline dealing with microbial, plant and animal venoms, poisons and toxins". Additionally stating that "toxinology...
and Disaster
Disaster
A disaster is a natural or man-made hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment...
Health, as well as dealing with its core business of tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
. The current Chair of the Faculty of Travel Medicine is Dr. Matthew Klein. The current Chairs of the Standing Committees on Medical Parasitology
Parasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
and Zoonoses, Toxinology
Toxinology
Toxinology is the specialized area of science that deals specifically with animal, plant, and microbial toxins. Prof. Dietrich Mebs has defined toxinology as "the scientific discipline dealing with microbial, plant and animal venoms, poisons and toxins". Additionally stating that "toxinology...
, Disaster
Disaster
A disaster is a natural or man-made hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment...
Health and Publications are Dr. Richard Bradbury, Dr. Ken D. Winkel, Dr. Vlas Efstathis and Professor Derek R. Smith, respectively. The Foundation Chairperson of the Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine is Associate Professor Marc Shaw.
Membership
Applications for membership of the ACTM and the FTM (and its Joint Faculty) are evaluated on the basis of the applicant's academic and professional qualifications, experience and contributions to tropical medicineTropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
or a related field, usually by way of publications, but other contributions are also considered. Applicants for membership of the FTM (and its Joint Faculty of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine) may also have a pass in a relevant examination in travel medicine
Travel medicine
Travel medicine or emporiatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and management of health problems of international travelers.-Globalization and travel:...
considered. Applications are made on prescribed membership application forms, which can be obtained from the ACTM Secretariat. The ACTM Secretriat is based at AMA House in Brisbane, Australia.
Fellows, Members and Associates of the ACTM are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FACTM, MACTM and AACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the College are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FACTM and Hon. MACTM, respectively. Notable Honorary Fellows of the College include Frank Fenner
Frank Fenner
Frank John Fenner, AC, CMG, MBE, FRS, FAA was an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology...
, Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows
Frederick "Fred" Cossom Hollows, AC was an ophthalmologist who became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries...
, and Struan Sutherland
Struan Sutherland
Struan Keith Sutherland AO was an Australian medical researcher who developed effective antivenoms and other treatments for people bitten or stung by venomous Australian wildlife.-Early life:...
. Notable Honorary Members of the College include the Anton Breinl Centre
Anton Breinl Centre
The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine is a constituent discipline of the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, and specialises in public health and tropical medicine...
, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and George Carmichael Low. Sir Patrick Manson, the Society's first President is generally acknowledged as the father of tropical medicine. He passed the presidency on to the Nobel laureate Sir Ronald Ross ,...
and the World Safety Organization
World Safety Organization
The World Safety Organization is an international professional association in safety. The WSO was founded in 1975 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, as a result of a gathering of over 1,000 safety professionals from all continents...
.
Fellows, Associate Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters FFTM ACTM, AFFTM ACTM and MFTM ACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FFTM ACTM and Hon. MFTM ACTM, respectively.
New members may receive their College testamurs at a Convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
of the College. The first Convocation was held in 1994 and Convocation XX was held in 2008. College awards and honours are also presented at these Convocations, usually held during a Scientific Meeting of the College.
External links
- ACTM/The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine Website
- FTM/Faculty of Travel Medicine Website
- IFTM Website
- RSTM&H Website
- ASTM&H Website
- MSPTM Website
- Email College Secretariat. actmATtropmed.org (please note that @ has been replaced by AT to help inhibit email trawling programs)