Nicholas Saunders (Vice-Chancellor)
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Andrew Saunders (born 26 June 1946) is an Australia
n academic and was the [Vice-Chancellor]] of the niversity of Newcastle, Australia|University of Newcastle]from 2004 to 2011].
, New South Wales
, and attended Newington College
(1959–1962) before graduating in medicine from the University of Sydney
.
. In 1974 he spent two years as a Research Fellow at McMaster University
Medical Centre in Canada
, followed by two years as assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School
. He was a foundation member of the University of Newcastle Faculty of Medicine in 1978 and Professor of Medicine from 1983. Saunders practiced as a specialist in respiratory and sleep medicine at the Royal Newcastle Hospital
and then the John Hunter Hospital
from 1990 until 1992, where he was also Chair of the Department of Medicine. From Newcastle he went on to become the Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at Flinders University
, South Australia
between 1993 and 1998. From 1998 to 2003 he was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University
, Victoria
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n academic and was the [Vice-Chancellor]] of the niversity of Newcastle, Australia|University of Newcastle]from 2004 to 2011].
Early life
Saunders was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1959–1962) before graduating in medicine from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
Medical and academic career
Saunders undertook his specialist physician training at Royal North Shore HospitalRoyal North Shore Hospital
The Royal North Shore Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located in St Leonards. It serves as a teaching hospital for Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney and has approximately 740 beds. It is the referral hospital for Northern Sydney and the Central...
. In 1974 he spent two years as a Research Fellow at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
Medical Centre in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, followed by two years as assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. He was a foundation member of the University of Newcastle Faculty of Medicine in 1978 and Professor of Medicine from 1983. Saunders practiced as a specialist in respiratory and sleep medicine at the Royal Newcastle Hospital
Royal Newcastle Hospital
The Royal Newcastle Hospital was, for nearly 190 years, the main hospital in the Australian city of Newcastle. The hospital stood on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Hunter River port of Newcastle, New South Wales, from 1817 until 2007. The hospital grew in step with Newcastle from its...
and then the John Hunter Hospital
John Hunter Hospital
The John Hunter Hospital is the principal referral centre and a community hospital for Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Northern New South Wales. It is the main teaching hospital of the University of Newcastle...
from 1990 until 1992, where he was also Chair of the Department of Medicine. From Newcastle he went on to become the Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
between 1993 and 1998. From 1998 to 2003 he was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
University leadership
Saunders commenced a five year term as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Newcastle in 2004 following his long standing association with the university and the Hunter River district. Since arriving at Newcastle Saunders has cut more than 400 positions - one job in five - to deal with the university's financial woes.Appointments
Saunders has served on the following boards and councils:- Chair - National Health and Medical Research CouncilNational Health and Medical Research CouncilThe National Health and Medical Research Council is Australia's peak funding body for medical research, with a budget of roughly 700 million dollars a year...
- Member - Higher Education Council
- Member - Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council
- Member - Australian Research CouncilAustralian Research CouncilThe Australian Research Council is the Australian Government’s main agency for allocating research funding to academics and researchers in Australian universities. Its mission is to advance Australia’s capacity to undertake research that brings economic, social and cultural benefit to the...
- Member - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council
- Chair - Committee of Deans of Australian Medical Schools
Awards
- Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
2001 - For outstanding leadership in medicine and education as Dean of Medicine, Monash University.