Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General
Dr John Gorman's pioneering medical research into the treatment of Rhesus disease has saved the lives of millions of babies around the world.
Australia has appointed Dr Gorman as an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia in recognition of his exceptional achievements.
This is the foremost honour in the Australian honours system. It is awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large.
Rhesus disease is caused by blood incompatibility between a mother and her unborn child and once caused about one in ten neonatal deaths.
In the early 1960s, Dr Gorman and his colleagues discovered an Anti-D immunoglobin treatment for Rhesus negative mothers.
Thanks to this remarkable work, Rhesus disease is now virtually eliminated in the developed world.
Dr Gorman was born and raised in Australia. He completed his medical studies at the University of Melbourne, before continuing his research and medical practice in the United States of America, where he currently resides.
