AMSA Life Members Receive Australia Day Honours

Professor David Scott AM and Dr George Santoro AO have this year been awarded with Australia Day Honours.

In 1960 Professor Scott was a 4th year medical student at the University of Queensland and also President of the University of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS). In this role, he garnered support from fellow colleagues to invite medical students from Australia’s medical schools to Brisbane for the inaugural Convention of medical students. With little planning time he managed to convene, billet, and entertain over 120 students from across Australia. An overwhelming success, this proved to be the genesis of AMSA, making Professor Scott the foundation President. He went on to attend the following 1961 Convention and play a vital role in writing the Constitution of the Association. In 1962, the Executive unanimously elected Professor Scott as AMSA’s first Honorary Vice-President in recognition of his work for the Association and as President and UQMS Council representative.

Dr Santoro was an enthusiastic delegate of the inaugural 1960 Brisbane Convention, so much so, he ensured its continuity and growth the following year at Melbourne. An affable and bold individual, Dr Santoro imbued many of the aspects of Convention we still know and enjoy today. Dr Santoro went on to graduate in 1962 from the University of Melbourne, but strived to remain in contact with his AMSA colleagues. He also remained an active advocate and organiser, never losing the zeal or sense of humour that served him -and AMSA- so well in his student days.

AMSA would like to congratulate our Alumni on their respective honours.