21 August 2008

New Chief Health Officer for NSW

The NSW Director General of Health, Professor Debora Picone, today announced that Professor Jim Bishop AO, has been appointed Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director General Population Health.

Professor Bishop will be responsible for the development and implementation of policies that promote, protect and improve the health of the NSW community, and to set priorities for the health system, as a whole.

Professor Bishop has led the Cancer Institute of NSW since 2003 and was the Institute's inaugural Chief Cancer Officer.

Professor Picone said that Professor Bishop has an outstanding track record in public health administration and clinical services, and that he will be a key figure in communicating with the community on public health issues.

"Professor Bishop has 25 years experience as a practicing consultant and health administrator. Through his work at the Cancer Institute, in particular, he has earned a reputation for excellence both nationally and internationally," Professor Picone said.

"Professor Bishop has developed cancer prevention programs to levels that have exceeded expectations and his expertise will translate well into the Population Health arena.

"He has helped shape public policy on a broad range of issues relevant to managing the risk of disease in our community. I look forward to the key role he will play in NSW Health on important issues such as Aboriginal health, environmental health, nutrition and anti-obesity measures, and injury prevention."

Professor Bishop is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRACPA) in haematology. He has worked in various capacities at the Royal Melbourne, Alfred and Royal Women's hospitals in Melbourne, the MacCallum Cancer Institute, the National Cancer Institute USA, the University of Maryland Hospital Baltimore, and the Royal Prince Alfred, Concord and Dubbo Base hospitals.

He will continue to lead the Cancer Institute after taking up his appointment of Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director General Population Health on Monday, September 8, 2008.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au