Brendan Murphy (doctor)

Brendan Murphy (born 1955) is an Australian public servant, health executive and nephrologist who served as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Australia from 4 October 2016 before beginning as the Secretary of the Department of Health on 13 July 2020.

Professor Brendan Murphy
Chief Medical Officer
In office 4 October 2016 – 26 June 2020
Preceded by	Chris Baggoley
Succeeded by	Paul Kelly (acting)
Secretary of the Department of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 July 2020
Preceded by	Glenys Beauchamp
Personal details
Born	Brendan Murphy 1955 (age 65–66) Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Sally Walker ​ (m. 1979)​
Education	Preshil Melbourne Grammar School Trinity College, Melbourne
Occupation	Public servant
Profession	Nephrologist

Biography

Murphy was born in 1955 and educated at Preshil,[1] Melbourne Grammar School and Trinity College within the University of Melbourne. He married lawyer and university administrator Sally Walker in 1979 and has two sons.[2]

Murphy is a nephrologist by profession and was formerly president of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology; CMO and director of nephrology at St Vincent's Health; CEO of Austin Health; and a board member of Health Workforce Australia, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.[3] Murphy is the first medical doctor to be nominated as Secretary of the Department of Health.[2][3]

Chief Medical Officer

Murphy was appointed CMO of Australia on 4 October 2016, when he replaced Chris Baggoley.[4] He became "the public face of Australia's fight against COVID-19" during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia,[5] giving regular press conferences with the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison,[6] and Health Minister Greg Hunt,[7] as well as the media.

Murphy was also head of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee[8] and in that role an adviser to the National Cabinet of Australia created to respond to the pandemic.[9]

He vacated the role of CMO on 29 June 2020, and became the Secretary of the Department of Health on 13 July 2020,[10] an appointment initially announced in January 2020, but delayed due to his central role in the response to the Coronavirus pandemic.[11] His deputy, Paul Kelly, is acting the role of CMO until a new appointment is made.[10][12]

Recognition

On 2 November 2020 Murphy was named Australian Capital Territory's Australian of the Year.[13]

References

1. "Heraldsun.com.au |". www.heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
2. Schulz, Amber (16 April 2020). "The man behind the eyebrows: just who is Brendan Murphy?". Crikey. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
3. "Professor Brendan Murphy appointed Department of Health Secretary". Australian Medical Association. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
4. Easton, Stephen (13 July 2016). "Chief medical officer retirement sparks Department of Health reshuffle". The Mandarin. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
5. Topsfield, Jewel (20 March 2020). "Coronavirus Australia: Brendan Murphy: the public face of Australia's fight against COVID-19". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
6. "Press conference with Premiers and Chief Ministers - Parramatta, NSW". Prime Minister of Australia (in Swahili). Retrieved 30 March 2020.
7. "Chief Medical Officer and Minister Hunt's joint press conference on coronavirus (COVID-19)". Australian Government Department of Health. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
8. McCauley, Dana (6 March 2020). "There's a reason Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy looks so tired". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
9. Grattan, Michelle (7 April 2020). "Scott Morrison indicates 'eliminating' COVID-19 would come at too high a cost". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
10. Probyn, Andrew (25 June 2020). "Brendan Murphy leaves Chief Medical Officer role, warning borders could remain closed until coronavirus vaccine is developed". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
11. Dingwall, Doug (29 May 2020). "Brendan Murphy to finish as chief medical officer in June after advising on coronavirus response". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
12. "Leadership: Acting Chief Medical Officer". Australian Government. Dept of Health. Retrieved 3 November 2020.}
13. "Professor Brendan Murphy, who led Australia's COVID-19 response, named ACT Australian of the Year". ABC news. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.