The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, more commonly known by its acronym ACTM is an

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologica ...

n medical association founded by 10 interested clinicians, scientists and researchers at the

Anton Breinl Centre The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (Anton Breinl Centre or the ABC) is a constituent discipline of the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences at James Cook University in Queensland, Austr ...

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

, Australia on 29 May 1991. The ACTM is a preeminent professional organisation in tropical medicine in the

n region and claims to have more than 800 fellows and members worldwide. The ACTM is committed to the development of tropical medicine and is working with professionals to help manage the global burden of

tropical disease Tropical diseases are Infectious disease, diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropics, tropical and subtropics, subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, whic ...

and injury through networking, research and development. The ACTM Secretriat is based at

AMA House, Brisbane AMA House is a heritage-listed villa at 188 L'Estrange Terrace, Kelvin Grove, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from to . It is also known as BMA House and Hunstanton. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 ...

History

The ACTM was founded by 10 interested clinicians, scientists and researchers at the

, Australia on 29 May 1991. Professor Peter A. Leggat, the College's Inaugural Honorary Secretary (1991–96), and Professor Rick Speare, the College's Inaugural President (1991–96), are generally acknowledged as the founder and co-founder of the College, respectively. Since that time, many distinguished clinicians, scientists and researchers in the field of tropical medicine coming from more than 30 countries have become Fellows, Members, Associates or Affiliates of the College. It has become the preeminent professional organisation in tropical medicine in the Australasian region. Formerly, The

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, more commonly known by its acronym RSTMH, was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and George Carmichael Low. Sir Patrick Manson, the Society's first President (1907–1909), was recognised as "th ...

(RSTM&H) was the only professional organisation representing the professional interests of those working in tropical medicine in Australasia. The RSTM&H still has approximately 100 members in Australasia and the ACTM and the RSTM&H have co-hosted joint activities in recent years, including a joint Scientific Meeting in 1997 and the RSTM&H Centennial Lecture series commemorating the Centenary of the RSTM&H in 2007 and the Centenary of Tropical Medicine in Australia in 2010. The ACTM is affiliated with the International Federation for Tropical Medicine (IFTM) and now represents member organisations of the IFTM in Australia.

Aims and content

The Aims of the College are to encourage continuing education and the exchange of knowledge in tropical medicine; collaborate with other organisations in conducting activities of mutual concern, interest and direction in tropical medicine; promote research in tropical medicine; strive for professionalism and competence among its members and those specialising in and entering into the field of tropical medicine; and to maintain a historical collection of items relevant to the development of tropical medicine in Australasia. Today the ACTM is a multi-disciplinary College, which incorporates a Faculty of Travel Medicine (FTM), a Joint Faculty of Expedition and

Wilderness Medicine Wilderness medicine is a rapidly evolving field and is of increasing importance as more people engage in hiking, climbing, kayaking, and other potentially hazardous activities in the backcountry. The modern definition of wilderness medicine is "m ...

with the Faculty of Travel Medicine, and Standing Committees on Medical

Parasitology Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question but by their way of life. This means it fo ...

and Zoonotic Diseases, Publications,

Toxinology A toxin is a naturally occurring organic poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. Toxins occur especially as a protein or conjugated protein. The term toxin was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849–19 ...

and

Disaster A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources ...

Health, as well as dealing with tropical medicine.

Journal

The ACTM Journal of ''Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease'' is an international, scientific, peer reviewed medical journal published monthly by the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) and its Joint Faculties of Travel Medicine and Expedition and Wilderness Medicine.

Presidents

* 1991–1996 Professor Rick Speare * 1996–1998 Professor Peter A. Leggat * 1998–2000 Professor John M. Goldsmid * 2000–2002 Dr. John L. Heydon * 2002–2004 Professor Peter A. Leggat * 2004–2006 Dr. Ken D. Winkel * 2006–2008 Professor Peter A. Leggat * 2008–2010 Associate Professor Tim Inglis * 2010–2012 Associate Professor David Porter

Membership

Applications for membership of the ACTM and the FTM (and its Joint Faculty) are evaluated on the basis of the applicant's academic and professional qualifications, experience and contributions to tropical medicine or a related field, usually by way of publications, but other contributions are also considered. Fellows, Members and Associates of the ACTM are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FACTM, MACTM and AACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the College are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FACTM and Hon. MACTM, respectively. Fellows, Associate Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters FFTM ACTM, AFFTM ACTM and MFTM ACTM, respectively. Honorary Fellows and Members of the FTM are entitled to use the postnominal letters Hon. FFTM ACTM and Hon. MFTM ACTM, respectively. New members may receive their College testamurs at a Convocation of the College. The first Convocation was held in 1994 and Convocation XX was held in 2008. College awards and honours are also presented at these Convocations, usually held during a Scientific Meeting of the College.

Notable Members

Notable Honorary Fellows of the College include

Frank Fenner Frank John Fenner (21 December 1914 – 22 November 2010) was an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology. His two greatest achievements are cited as overseeing the eradication of smallpox, and the attempted con ...

, Fred Hollows, and

Struan Sutherland Struan Keith Sutherland AO (17 June 193611 January 2002) was an Australian medical researcher who developed effective antivenoms and other treatments for people bitten or stung by venomous Australian wildlife. Early life Sutherland was born i ...

. Notable Honorary Members of the College include the Anton Breinl Centre, the

Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), commonly known as the Flying Doctor, is an air medical service in Australia. It is a non-profit organisation that provides emergency and primary health care services for those living in rural, remote an ...

, the

and the World Safety Organization.

References

External links

ACTM/The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine Website
{{authority control Medical associations based in Australia Medical associations based in New Zealand 1991 establishments in Australia Tropical medicine organizations