Dr Peter Sullivan, “Medicine on Ice”
"In the tradition of Dr Joseph Bancroft, AMA Queensland presented a keynote speaker of significant implication, dedication and contribution to medicine.
Dr Peter Sullivan, former Medical Research Officer to the Australian Antarctic Division, breaks the ice on thermal physiology, diving medicine, hypothermia, frostbite and the isolation, confined conditions and extreme wilderness medicine. Surviving the Antarctic means you wear different beanies throughout your posting. You are a doctor, health care provider, medical researcher, behavioural therapist, a nutritionalist, a physiologist, a very fast learner on internet-based telemedicine techniques and most importantly, you need to be a survivor.
The Antarctic region, one of our last frontiers of science, holds an enormous attraction to most people because of its isolation and splendour in extremity, and most of us relish the opportunity to listen to the tales of those who return from its clutches. Dr Sullivan first joined the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) in 1982 and spent three year-long periods as Medical Officer at various Antarctic Stations. He held the position of Medical Research Officer to the Australian Antarctic Division from 1989 until 2002. Dr Sullivan has written on hypothermia and cold injuries for several internation
al textbooks and studied prevention and management of cold injuries while a Churchill Fellow. He lived to tell the tale.
The 100 or so attendees at the Bancroft Oration included AMA Queensland President, Dr Mason Stevenson, President Elect Dr Gino Pecoraro, medical professionals, AMA Queensland Branch
Councillors, administration, students and invited Queensland Health government dignitaries."
