Several endocrinologists have been officially named among the field’s “best and brightest minds” after being made fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Professor Sophia Zoungas, an endocrinologist and a leading clinician scientist and triallist, was recognised for her decades of work running clinical trials and developing new models of care to improve healthcare access.

“Her research has transformed approaches to glucose prescribing for people with diabetes,” the academy said.

Professor of Diabetes, Vascular Health and Ageing, and Head of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, she is also a senior staff specialist in endocrinology at Alfred Health and Monash Health in Victoria.

Her research focus is on the generation and implementation of evidence for the prevention, screening and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and its complications of kidney and cardiovascular disease.

Also among the fellows elected last week was Professor Peter Ebeling, Head of the Department of Medicine in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

“He is a clinical and research leader in bone health and osteoporosis, changing clinical practice and health policy,” the academy said, noting his work as president of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research and chair of Healthy Bones Australia.

His achievements include being involved with the team that discovered a new hormone, PTHrP, involved in cancer and normal calcium metabolism, while his research has garnered over 24,300 citations, according to his academic profile.

In 2015, Professor Ebeling was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to medicine in the field of bone health, through academic contributions and research initiatives in a range of administrative, executive and professional roles.

And University of Adelaide head of paediatrics Professor Jennifer Couper was recognised for her clinical research on ways to reduce later cardiovascular disease in children with T1DM.

“She heads the first global investigation of the early life origins of type 1 diabetes and co-leads prevention trials,” the academy said.

“Through her work, she has found ways to detect cardiovascular disease early in children with type 1 diabetes and shown the benefits of exercise, diet and medication.”

All up, 31 new fellows were elected to the academy last week, with other high-profile names including epidemiologist and Professor of Disability and Health at the University of Melbourne Professor Anne Kavanagh.

Doherty Institute laboratory head Professor Laura Mackay was also recognised for her work on tissue-resident memory T cells and their involvement in viral and tumour immunity.

At 39, she was the academy’s youngest-ever fellow to be elected, said AAHMS President, Professor Ingrid Scheffer.

“The wealth of experience and diversity of expertise amongst our newest fellows will allow the academy to continue to provide an expert and authoritative voice that spans the full breadth and depth of health services, medical science, research and innovation in Australia,” Professor Scheffer said.

“Our fellows include the nation’s top health and research leaders and I look forward to seeing the contributions that our 2022 fellows make to ensure that Australia continues to have a robust and world-leading health and medical research and innovation sector.”

Other new fellows include:

• ABC journalist and doctor Dr Norman Swan, elected in recognition of his significant contribution to health and medical science journalism over the past four decades.
• Professor Di Yu, the inaugural director and chair in paediatric immunotherapy at the Ian Frazer Centre for Children’s Immunotherapy Research at the University of Queensland.
• Professor Ian Freckelton, King’s Counsel, elected in recognition of his extensive contributions to health law and policy, including as founder of the Journal of Law and Medicine and publishing through a series of edited books on health law.
• Professor Jennifer Couper, Head of Paediatrics at The University of Adelaide, who is a practicing clinician and researcher who leads innovations for children at-risk of or with type 1 diabetes.
• Professor Leonid Churilov, Professor in Biostatistics at The University of Melbourne, who led complex and comprehensive design and analysis of acute and recovery stroke trials that have resulted in global changes in clinical practice.