Tom Connell

A/Prof Tom Connell is the Chief of Medicine at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Originally from Dublin Ireland, he graduated from University College Dublin in 1996, received Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (Paediatrics and Child Health) in 1999 and came to the RCH Melbourne in 2003. He subsequently completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases, prior to moving to Cape Town to complete field work for his PhD that he obtained in 2011 from The University of Melbourne.

Tom received a Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) career development award from 2013 - 2016 and is co-lead of the clinical paediatrics research group that sits within the Infection Immunity theme within the MCRI. Tom is also an honorary Principal Fellow within The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics. He has published in excess of 80 peer reviewed manuscripts and has mentored and taught many trainees who now have successful careers at the RCH and other major national and international hospitals.

In 2014, Tom was appointed Director of General Medicine at the RCH, where he provided leadership to almost 120 staff and gained awards for quality improvement in General Medicine and Specialist Clinics. Tom commenced as Chief of Medicine in October 2018.

Tom was the 2016 recipient of the RCH Chairman’s Medal, recognising his contribution to improving patient flow, care for complex patients, medical education, clinical research and workplace culture in his department.