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Professor Michael Reade has been appointed as the inaugural Chair of Military Surgery and Medicine at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Queensland.

His appointment will strengthen, shape and lead military surgery, research and training, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said today.

"This is a very significant role because it is the appointment of the first Chair of Military Surgery and Medicine at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Queensland," he said.

"The chair will lead military research with a focus on the unique requirements of Defence in pre-hospital care, trauma, burns, damage control, resuscitation and surgery.

"This position will work closely with Defence and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to provide academic scrutiny and rigour to emergency care in the battlefield.

"The research undertaken by the chair will significantly improve the resuscitative and emergency care of our service men and women in the field over time."

Professor Reade has extensive experience in the health sector including international appointments which will increase the global reach of this position.

"I welcome the appointment of Professor Reade who has a distinguished professional profile, with demonstrated excellence in academic medicine," Mr Snowdon said.

Mr Reade has a Doctorate from Oxford, a Masters in Public Health from the University Pittsburgh and qualifications in both anaesthesia and in Intensive Care Medicine.

"Professor Reade also has 21 years of service with the Army Reserves including five operational deployments. This depth of understanding will advance military health in Australia."

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Queensland Professor Nicholas Fisk said: "This is a tremendous example of collaboration, with many downstream benefits for both the ADF and the University of Queensland."

The Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force, Major General Paul Alexander has also welcomed this appointment, noting Professor Reade will provide the Australian Defence Force with a critical link to experts in the fields of research, training and surgery.

The Chair of Military Surgery and Medicine will have close links with the Centre for Military and Veterans' Health as well as the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Associate Professor Reade will be located at the Herston Campus, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Queensland.

Media Contacts: Minister Snowdon's office: Alice Plate 0400 045 999