Geoffrey Alexander Harding OAM (born 1950), most often known as Geoff Harding, is a Brisbane-based

medical practitioner A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and a recognized leader within the field of

musculoskeletal medicine Musculoskeletal physiology is the branch of physiology which addresses the processes of musculoskeletal system. In subclassifying musculoskeletal physiology, MeSH emphasizes the division between "phenomena" and "processes". It is also possible to e ...

Education

Harding was educated at

Padua College (Brisbane) Padua College is an independent Roman Catholic boys' primary and high school located in the Brisbane suburb of Kedron, Queensland, Australia. The College is the only school owned and operated by the Franciscan Friars in Australia and only the ...

, and subsequently studied medicine at the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1982. He undertook short courses in

at the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris with Professor Robert Maigne, and Dr Jean-Yves Maigne. In 1995 he completed a Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago.

Professional career

Harding has operated a musculoskeletal clinic at suburban Sandgate in Queensland for a number of years. He has also served as a speaker and educator within the field of musculoskeletal medicine. Harding notes that musculoskeletal pain is the most common pain affecting Australians, and this also has a high economic cost to the community. Harding, however, advocates a form of “

self-efficacy In psychology, self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their capacity to act in the ways necessary to reach specific goals. The concept was originally proposed by the psychologist Albert Bandura. Self-efficacy affects every area of human endea ...

”, that is, “putting the patient in control”, through carefully explaining what is happening. He maintains that this can have surprisingly positive results. The work of Geoff Harding was recognized in 2017 with the awarding of an Order of Australia Medal. The citation reads: “For service to musculoskeletal medicine”.

Personal life

Harding is a part-time musician, performing with a local band.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Geoffrey 1950 births Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Living people Australian physiologists