We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Jonathan Gillis to the newly created position of Medical Director of the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service, which became part of the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service (SESIAHS) in July 2009.

The position is part of an expansion of organ donation services in NSW which includes 10 newly created hospital-based Medical Director positions and 12 newly created specialist nursing positions across NSW.

The expansion of the Service is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to World’s Best Practice Approach to Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation. The reform package includes clinical and community education measures to improve opportunities for organ donation and deliver better outcomes for those Australians waiting for a life-saving or life transforming transplant.

Dr Gillis is well suited to the challenges of this role. He is a senior Intensivist and has been Director of the ICU at the Children’s Hospital Westmead and Bear Cottage, Children’s Hospice in Manly.

Dr Gillis is also a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and has a strong interest in ethics and end of life care.  He is a visiting Scholar at the Plunkett Centre for Ethics in Health Care, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Dr Gillis joins us at a time of improved community interest and activity in organ and tissue donation and the biggest increase in organ donations in NSW for fifteen years.We would also like to take this opportunity to thank and wish Dr Deepak Bhonagiri all the best for the future. Deepak has been Acting State Medical Director since July 2009 and has overseen the appointments of the additional clinical staff in NSW.