ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ROSEMARY NIXON AM

Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon AM graduated in medicine in 1981, MB BS with Honours from Monash University after previously attaining first class B Sc (Hons) in biochemistry. She qualified as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (FACD) in 1988 and has worked in general dermatology for over 30 years, at East Melbourne Dermatology in Albert St and then in Fitzroy.

She additionally qualified in occupational medicine in 1994 and holds the distinction of being the only person to have obtained Australian qualifications in both dermatology and occupational medicine. She completed all her university degrees at Monash University and trained predominantly at Prince Henry’s Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She additionally trained in contact and occupational dermatitis at St John’s Institute for Diseases of the Skin In London.

She was initially appointed to Prince Henry’s, the Royal Childrens and then Monash Medical Centre and was Dermatology Unit Head at Monash from 1991 to 2001. She continued as Visiting Dermatologist at Monash Health until 2017.  She started Australia’s first Occupational Dermatology Clinic in 1993 at Monash Medical Centre, patch testing workers with suspected occupational dermatitis. Patch testing is a form of allergy testing conducted over 3 visits in one week.

In 2001, she established the Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre (ODREC), a small research group in occupational dermatology at the Skin and Cancer Foundation, which has recently been renamed the Skin Health Institute. She has published over 150 papers and numerous book chapters.

The Skin Health Institute is a stand-alone, private, not for profit, dermatology sub-specialist outpatient centre in Carlton and serves as a home for dermatology in Melbourne. Rosemary was a Board Member from 1989-2000 and since 2008 and commenced as President in November 2019.

In 2010, she was appointed Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Monash University and in 2012 she was appointed Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, University of Melbourne.

Her many roles for the Australasian College of Dermatologists have included Councillor 1997-2000; Member, Victorian Faculty Executive 1994-2013; Examiner 2006-2011; Chair, Victorian Faculty 2011-2013. She is currently the spokesperson on contact dermatitis and a member of the Continuing Professional Development and Expert Advisory Committees.

In 2016 she was awarded the Members’ Special Recognition award of the Skin and Cancer Foundation and in 2017, she was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM). The citation read “For significant service to community health in the field of occupational dermatology, as an academic and researcher, and to professional standards”. In 2018 she received the highest award of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, the Silver Medal.

Rosemary divides her time between the Occupational Dermatology Clinic at the Skin Health Institute, her research group ODREC and her practice in general dermatology.

Rosemary enjoys hiking and travelling, and firmly believes in the health benefits of nature. She volunteers in a local Friends group and as a former scout leader, assists at the Melbourne Gang Show. She has two adult daughters and is a passionate Hawthorn supporter!

In August 2021, Rosemary moved her general dermatology practice from East Melbourne Dermatology, located at 171 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, to Heidelberg Dermatology, 5 Burgundy St, Heidelberg.

Patch testing is undertaken at the Skin Health Institute and referrals for patch testing should be sent to [email protected]

Further information can be found at:

• occderm.asn.au
• skinhealthinstitute.org.au
• icdrg.org
• heidelbergdermatology.com.au

Car parking:  There is reasonable street parking in Burgundy Street. There is undercover off-street parking under the flats next (on the left hand side) to Heidelberg Dermatology. Heidelberg Dermatology is located 230m from Warringal Shopping Centre, Heidelberg.
Public transport: See ptv.vic.gov.au

Train: Heidelberg train station on the Hurstbridge Line is located 900m away along Burgundy Street. Buses 513, 546 and 903 travel along Burgundy Street.

Buses: 513 travels from Glenroy to Eltham via Greensborough or Lower Plenty along Burgundy Street, turning north at Cape Street for 1 block.

546 travels from University of Melbourne along Heidelberg Rd to Clifton Hill then Lower Heidelberg Rd to Ivanhoe East before turning left into Burgundy St and to Heidelberg Station.

903 travels from Mordialloc to Altona via Warrigal Rd, Station St Box Hill, Williamson’s Rd Doncaster, Manningham Rd Bulleen, Banksia Street then Burgundy St to Heidelberg station then Bell St Coburg to Preston, Essendon and thence to Altona.

Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon |  [email protected]