Neurologists and advocates for neurological conditions have been recognised in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List.

Dr Geoffrey Herkes

Dr Geoffrey Herkes of NSW was recognised as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine as a neurologist, to medical research, and to professional associations.

Dr Herkes was Head of Neurology at the Royal North Shore Hospital from 2008 to 2014 and director of the Brain Foundation from 2014 to 2021.

He has been a member of and chaired a number of TGA committees including the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee and the Opiate Advisory Group.

An active researcher, Dr Herkes has also been director of research at the Adventist HealthCare since 2019.

He has previously been recognised with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) Medal in 2016.

Professor Elsdon Storey

Professor Elsdon Storey of Victoria was also recognised with an AM for his significant service to medicine in the field of neurology, and to professional associations.

Among his achievements, he was Head of Neurology at the Alfred Hospital and Professor of Neuroscience at Monash University from 1996 to 2016.

He has previously been recognised with the ANZAN Medal in 2017.

Prof Elizabeth McCusker

Professor Elizabeth McCusker of NSW was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for her service to medicine as a neurologist, particularly in the field of Huntington’s disease.

A champion for the Huntington’s Disease service at Westmead Hospital, she is a Life Member and Fellow of the RACP, a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and a Life Member of the Australian Huntington’s Disease Association (NSW).

She also served as Secretary-General of the World Federation of Neurology’s Research Group, Huntington’s Disease from 2005 to 2009.

The Honours list also included an AM for Mr Paul Murnane the co-founder and former chair of MS Research Australia and former Director of MS Australia.

Ms Emily Petricola, an Olympic champion para-cyclist and a person living with MS, received an OAM for her work in MS advocacy.