Health Hero – Clinical Professor Saxon Smith

“Saxon’s humility, compassion, intellectual curiosity and consultative, respectful style is obvious. The best word to describe him is assiduous”

This week’s health hero is Clinical Professor Saxon Smith nominated by Alex White.

Alex White, Former AMA Federal Director of Medical Practice, health policy adviser and current Corporate Affairs executive, shared the following:

I am in the somewhat unique position of knowing Saxon both professionally as well as personally as a patient. The first being eight years ago as a federal AMA staffer while Saxon represented NSW on Federal Council, as well as a specialist on the Council of Private Specialist Practice. Most recently as a patient, I have been able to see and experience the way he brings all of his best attributes to how he provides care.

Clinical Professor Saxon Smith is a dermatologist, former President of the Australian Medical Association (NSW) and clinical professor at Australian National University.

Saxon’s humility, compassion, intellectual curiosity and consultative, respectful style are obvious. But perhaps the best word to describe him is assiduous.

His Order of Australia award citation – for significant service to medicine as a dermatologist and researcher, and to professional societies – lists 74 unique contributions including to medical colleges, professional societies, associations, academic institutions, NSW Health and in research.

Practically, this list represents the enormous contribution Saxon makes across all the domains in which he is involved:

• To research including through clinical trials and publication of his and his colleagues’ research.
• In supporting the next generation of dermatologists as a clinical supervisor.
• Advancing the best interest of medical practitioners, ensuring their voices are represented and policy decisions are made in their best interests.
• And as an advocate and spokesperson, for the whole state of NSW and its medical workforce as NSW AMA Vice President and President, and through campaigns of personal professional interest around skin cancer prevention, smoking cessation, firearms policy, and improving health literacy.
• And of course his role caring for his countless patients.

Speaking as a patient, when I first reached out to Saxon to see if I could get a bit of help he responded within minutes: is it urgent, how can I help, of course I’ll help in any way I can. And he has done so in that unique way that makes Saxon who he is – with humility, compassion, respect and assiduously. And I’ve seen the same applied with his other patient interactions, treating them with respect and genuine interest, addressing family members by first name too and also asking after them.

My interactions with Saxon as a patient also sum him up well. When the clinical component of the consultation is over, he is quick to tell me what he has learnt and what he has been up to. Quick to share the most recent interaction he’s had with industry to understand the latest developments and what their research is showing; the latest new drug approved by the FDA; what he and his specialist colleagues have been learning and doing to continue advancing their knowledge and providing patients with the best care; and sometimes (maybe often) that if the TGA delegates had more experience, more patients would have access to better treatments earlier.

It’s a privilege to be able to nominate Saxon as a Health Hero and a recognition he absolutely deserves.