WESTMEAD, NSW, AUSTRALIA, August 28, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Gwendolyn L. Gilbert, Clinical Professor in Infectious Diseases for the University of Sydney, and a physician at the Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology (CIDM) of the Westmead Hospital, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in disease prevention.

While on rotation at the Fairfield Infectious Disease Hospital during her year as an intern at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a resident at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Dr. Gilbert received inspiration that led her to a 45-year career, and counting, in the field of infectious diseases and microbiology. For the last 21 years, she has served as a clinical professor in Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Sydney, and infectious diseases physician, clinical microbiologist and researcher at the Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology of the Westmead Hospital.

With a background in health care associated infections, infectious diseases, infection control ethics, bacteria of public health importance, vaccine-preventable diseases, infections in pregnancy and the newborn, Dr. Gilbert conducts research in molecular and clinical epidemiology of bacteria of public health importance, as well as the ethics of infectious diseases.

Specializing in communicable diseases of public health importance, including health care-associated infections, she was until recently the Director of the CIDM Laboratory Services and is currently Director of the CIDM Public Health (which undertakes research and development to improve communicable disease diagnosis, prevention and control, funded by a major capacity building infrastructure grant from the New South Wales Ministry of Health), and Head of the infection control and hospital epidemiology for the Western Sydney Local Health District.

Dr. Gilbert is the author of more than 300 papers in referred journals, numerous review articles and 27 book chapters and has edited seven books. She also authored the book "Infectious Disease in Pregnancy and the Newborn Infant," which was published in 1991. In addition to her current positions, she was, until recently responsible for leading the serosurveillance programs at the National Centre for Immunisation, Research and Surveillance. She also established the National Public Health Laboratory Network in Australia in 1997 and served as the organization's first chair. She attributes her success to hard work, having a good support system and a good education.

She has been a chief investigator on numerous competitive research grants, including three (two current) Centres for Research Excellence awarded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. She is a founding senior investigator in the recently established Sydney Emerging Infections and Biosecurity (SEIB) Institute at the University of Sydney.

In 1965, Dr. Gilbert earned a Bachelor of Surgery and a Bachelor of Medicine from The University of Melbourne. Four short years later, she completed a fellowship at The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, followed with a fellowship at The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. In 1991, she graduated from her alma mater with an MD, followed in 2003 with a Master of Bioethics from Monash University.

She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (of which she is a Past President and Honorary Life Member), the Australian Society for Microbiology, of which (she is a Past President and recipient of a Distinguished Service Award) and the American Society for Microbiology. In the coming years, she hopes to continue to undertake research into ethics aspects of infection prevention and control and infectious diseases at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital.

For more information about Westmead Hospital, visit http://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Westmead-Hospital.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
[email protected]

# # #