SAHMRI congratulates Professor Stephen Nicholls on new role

19 Sep 2018
SAHMRI congratulates Professor Stephen Nicholls on new role

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute's (SAHMRI) Deputy Director and Heart Health Theme Leader, Professor Stephen Nicholls, has today announced he’ll be leaving the Adelaide-based institute to take up the position as Director of Monash Heart with Monash Health in Melbourne.

“SAHMRI has been an enormous part of my professional and personal life.” Professor Nicholls said.

“As much as I’m proud of what my team, and the institute more generally, has achieved during my time here, it’s the people I’ve worked with and the friendships I’ve made that give me the fondest memories.

“I would like to both thank and congratulate my team, collaborators and colleagues for their continued success. They continue to hit home runs and to deliver the highest quality research which is genuinely improving the health of our community.

“I would like to give special thanks to Executive Director, Professor Steve Wesselingh, and the Board for their support during my time at SAHMRI. I’m also grateful for all those people who were pivotal in the establishment of the institution and who continue to contribute to its culture of success.

“When I started with SAHMRI in 2012, the building itself didn’t even exist. Six short years later, we’ve become an internationally renowned medical research institute boasting some of the world’s finest researchers, all operating out of a truly inspiring building in the heart of Adelaide’s burgeoning BioMed City precinct.

Professor Wesselingh paid tribute to Professor Nicholls’ outstanding contributions to the institute and medical research in general.

“Steve’s professional credentials speak for themselves but what he’s brought to SAHMRI over the years goes well beyond the laboratory,” Professor Wesselingh said.

“Steve has been a much-admired colleague, teacher and friend to so many people here. He’ll be sorely missed but we wish him every success at Monash. 

“We’re proud to see one of our own selected for such an eminent position.”

Professor Nicholls joined SAHMRI from the Cleveland Clinic in April 2012. He is also Professor of Cardiology at The University of Adelaide, a consultant cardiologist with the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Honorary Secretary of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

He’s a multiple-award winner who’s written more than 770 manuscripts, book chapters and conference proceedings, and has raised more than $100 million in research funding.

Professor Nicholls will begin with Monash Health in a part time role from October 8, transitioning to full time by the end of January next year.

He will also lead the new Victorian Heart Hospital and continue his teaching and research roles as Professor of Cardiology with Monash University.