SAVING the sight of thousands of Australians through research and teaching has been the foundation of Denis Wakefield's career in medicine.
Professor Wakefield, 64, of Sylvania, was made an officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the field of ocular immunology and immunopathology, as a clinician, researcher and academic.
St George and Sutherland Shire residents have featured again in the Australia Day Honours list, with one named an AO (Officer of the Order), one an AM (Member of the Order) and six awarded OAMs (Medals of the Order), one a Public Service Medal and one a Fire Service Medal.
Born in North Sydney in 1950, Professor Wakefield was the eldest of six children.
He studied medicine at the University of NSW and a myriad of distinguished achievements followed.
"I'm pleased I've been able to help people as a result of my research and teaching," he said.
"When I first started I suppose I was interested in disease and suffering. It is a unique profession in that it is rewarding and has so many aspects to it in terms of researching clinical care as well as teaching and trying to influence students positively," he said.
Professor Wakefield has worked in medicine for more than 30 years and established the Sutherland Centre of Immunology 15 years ago.
He said a hunger to learn and desire to help teach others had driven him to continue his work.
"We are in such an exciting phase in the history of medicine," he said. "Everyone involved in it can't wait to see what happens in the future. We've getting so much better at treating so many diseases. It is very exciting."
