18 January 1932 to 27 June 2022
Professor Jim McLeod was elected to the Academy in 1981 for his experimental contributions related particularly to our understanding of peripheral neuropathies in both the somatic and visceral nervous systems. He was the first to demonstrate the convergence of visceral and somatic afferent information onto single cells in the thalamus, thereby providing a physiological basis for the phenomenon of referred pain.
Following his BSc in Medicine at the University of Sydney, in 1953 Professor McLeod was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. After completing his PhD in Oxford he received his MBBS from the University of Sydney in 1959. He then worked in clinical medicine at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Sydney, and spent a year at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. In 1964 he received a Nuffield Travelling Fellowship which took him to the Institute of Neurology at the National Hospital in London followed by a Lilly Travelling Fellowship to Harvard. In 1965 Professor McLeod returned to Australia to clinical work as a physician then neurologist, as well as a senior lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor of Medicine at the RPA, and Repatriation General Hospital, Concord. From 1978 Professor McLeod was both Head of the University of Sydney’s Department of Medicine and Department of Neurology at the RPA. He was later appointed RPA’s Head of the Division of Medicine. Professor McLeod also served in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves as Surgeon Lieutenant then Consultant Neurologist.
Professor McLeod directed his research and his clinical work towards multiple sclerosis (MS). With Professor Tony Basten AO FAA FTSE, he conducted the first immunotherapy clinical trials for MS in Australia. He worked with the MS Society of NSW to set up clinics throughout New South Wales for MS patients.
Professor McLeod was awarded Honorary Membership of the American Neurological Association, the Association of British Neurologists and the European Neurological Society. He was a Fellow of both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians (London). He was a Fellow of ATSE, received an Honorary Doctorate from Aix-Marseille University, and the 2001 Centenary Medal. Professor McLeod was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986 for service to medicine.
Professor McLeod gave his time generously to the Academy. He served on several committees and on Council, including as Vice President and Treasurer. He also served on the Academy’s National Science and Industry Forum.
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