Three specialists have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to cardiovascular medicine.

Melbourne cardiologist and electrophysiologist Professor Jonathan Kalman was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to medicine, particularly to cardiac electrophysiology as a clinician and academic, and through roles with a range of national and international heart rhythm societies.

Professor Jonathan Kalman

Professor Kalman, who is based at Royal Melbourne Hospital, performed the first curative ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation in Australia in 1997 and his department has now performed over 2000 ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation.

Professor Kalman is scientific chair of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) and also the scientific chair of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Roger Mee, also from Melbourne, was made an Officer of the Order of Austrlia (AO) for distinguished service to medicine as a cardiothoracic surgeon, through innovations in establishing new techniques in paediatric surgery and as a leader and clinician.

Dr Mee is director of the Victorian Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Dr Fred Nasser was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to medicine in the field of cardiology and to the community.

The Sydney based cardiologist has also made significant contributions to the Lebanese community for decades, serving as chairman of the Australian Lebanese Heart Foundation since 2004 and presenting weekly health-related programs in Arabic and English on SBS Radio.