Professor Michael Horowitz has been appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to endocrinology, particularly diabetes, as a researcher, educator and clinician.

He has been the director of the endocrine and metabolic unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital since 1997.

Professor Horowitz also leads the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health.

He has co-authored more than 700 peer-reviewed papers and 41 book chapters, and is also an editor of the World Journal of Diabetes.

His research interests relate to gastrointestinal motor, sensory, and hormonal function, particularly in the context of diabetes mellitus, appetite regulation, critical illness and aging.

Professor Horowitz told Jewish news publication J-Wire [link here] that the award signified that he had been “most fortunate” in his life.

“Both my parents came to Australia as refugees in 1939. This had a profound influence on me,” he said.

“My mother was studying science in Prague when the SS arrived. She was the only woman doing so at the time. When she arrived in Adelaide, she spoke French, German and Czech and was allowed to sit her examinations here in French.

“My Polish father ended up at the University of Adelaide studying agricultural sciences.”

Professor Horowitz was appointed to a Personal Chair at the University of Adelaide in 1995.

Professor Duncan Topliss was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to endocrinology, and to professional organisations.

Professor Topliss, from Monash University, Melbourne, has an interest in the prevention and management of acute and chronic complications of diabetes.

He has also been involved with the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines for diabetes and other endocrine diseases.

Professor Topliss is director of the department of endocrinology and diabetes at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, and a past-president and life member of the Endocrine Society of Australia.

Professor Margaret Zacharin was also awarded an AM for significant service to medicine, particularly paediatric endocrinology.

Currently at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Hospital, Melbourne, Professor Zacharin has more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has written a number of parent information booklets on bone health.

Her research interests include growth and puberty disorders, osteoporosis and related conditions in primary bone disorders, chronic disease, hypogonadism, hormone replacement treatment and long term effects of cancer treatment.