Bruce received the Companion of the Order of Australia as part of this year’s Australia Day Honours for his contribution to medical research, national health care and tertiary education.
Currently an endocrinologist at Royal North Shore and co-Head of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at the Kolling Institute, Bruce said he shared the success with a lot of people from across the organisations as well as many others.
“I feel very honoured to receive this award, and acknowledge that it would not have been possible except for the great support I have received throughout my professional life from my family, colleagues from medicine, the broader health community, from academia, the business community and the public sector,” he said.
“My work in medical research, health care and medical education, has all been built on the foundations laid by others.”
Bruce said he had been very fortunate throughout his career in a multitude of ways.
“Being a doctor and looking after patient’s health care is a privilege, and I would also like to acknowledge the support and trust that patients have offered to me and to acknowledge how much they have taught me,” he said.
“Advances in health requires teams of skilled committed people and I feel very fortunate to have been able to participate in and, at different times lead teams of professionals who are committed to the same goal of improving the care we provide for our community.”
NSLHD Chief Executive Deb Willcox said recognition of Bruce’s work on the national stage was well deserved.
“Bruce is a shining light at RNSH both clinically and personally,” she said.
“This public acknowledgement is so deserved and we are so thrilled that what all RNS staff, his patients and families already know is being shared across the nation.”
Former NSLHD mental health and suicide prevention advocate Tony Humphrey was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his contribution to community health through suicide prevention organisations.
Tony worked with the district between 1988 and 2010.
