RDNS nurses meet Nobel laureate. What did we learn?

Nobel laureate Peter Doherty and leading infectious disease physician Professor Sharon Lewin were guest speakers at the Melbourne Press Club this month – and for RDNS nurse Sharon McNeil it was a rare opportunity to hear two eminent scientists discuss a subject of crucial importance to community nurses the world over.

Ms McNeil, who is policy operations coordinator in the quality and risk department at RDNS, was one of several RDNS staff who attended the special presentation. She described the experience as a magnificent opportunity to hear firsthand about the threats posed by infectious diseases to vulnerable communities the world over.

“It was a real privilege to be in the same room and to actually hear two internationally renowned scientists talk passionately about their pioneering research into infection and immunity,” Ms McNeil said. “And to get an understanding of the incredible world’s best practice going on right here in our own backyard to combat the microbial challenges that threaten humankind was amazing,” she said.

Read our full report over at the RDNS Blog about Professor Doherty who shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1996 and Professor Lewin is inaugural director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.