The NSW Dr Autumn 2024 - Vale Clinical Professor Saxon Smith

FEATURE

VALE CLINICAL PROFESSOR SAXON SMITH AM AMA (NSW) PRESIDENT 2014 - 2016

It is with profound sadness that we note the death of highly esteemed and much-loved former AMA (NSW) President Professor Saxon Smith, a distinguished figure in dermatology, who passed away at the age of 47.

CLINICAL PROFESSOR SAXON SMITH’S DEDICATION TO AMA (NSW), where he served as President from 2014-16, and his influential positions on numerous medical councils and boards highlighted his leadership in the medical community. He worked tirelessly to represent doctors and patients: he spent 6 years as the NSW and ACT representative on the AMA Federal Council, 16 years on the AMA (NSW) Council and 10 years on the Board of Directors of AMA (NSW), including chairing the board for 2 years.

“Saxon was a thoughtful, compassionate colleague,” said Professor Brian Owler, AMA (NSW) President from 2012 – 2014, with whom Professor Smith served as Vice-President. “He was always available to support the important work of the AMA and we shared a deep commitment to not just supporting the patient in front of us but patients everywhere.

He was the embodiment of the values of the profession and the AMA.” Dr Brad Frankum served as AMA (NSW) Vice President when Professor Smith was President, also serving as a fellow member 20 I THE NSW DOCTOR I AUTUMN 2024

of state and federal councils of the AMA. Dr Frankum said “Rarely in life do we meet people who are unique and special and when we do, we should be grateful. Saxon was one such person. He was always wise beyond his years. He was quiet and unassuming but very determined.

He was comfortable with the success of others. Indeed, he helped many achieve it and was interested in other people’s lives.

He was humble yet confident.

“Saxon achieved a great deal in a relatively short period of time.”

Dr Frankum went on. “He rose to the top of his specialty, combining clinical and academic work seamlessly. He rose to the top of the AMA and was liked and respected by all. He dealt with media with aplomb. He was a tireless advocate.

He was worldly but had a wonderful cynical sense of humour. I just had a smile looking back through many of the text messages we shared over the years about a range of things. A lump in my throat, too.

“Saxon loved his wife Camille and his son Eliot completely and was very proud of them. It is profoundly sad that he had such a short time with them. It is a terrible loss for them and for all of us who knew Saxon for him to be gone so young.

He will be greatly missed but fondly remembered.”

AMA (NSW) President Dr Michael Bonning said “Saxon, more than anything was my friend. The foundation of our friendship was the profession of medicine and our work with the AMA but there was so much more to a friendship with Saxon. He was kind and energetic and selfless.

Prof. Saxon Smith is invested as AMA (NSW) President by his predecessor Prof. Brian Owler

“He was always available to support the important work of the AMA and we shared a deep commitment to not just supporting the patient in front of us but patients everywhere. He was the embodiment of the values of the profession and the AMA.” PROFESSOR BRIAN OWLER, AMA (NSW) PRESIDENT FROM 2012 – 2014

FEATURE

“Dr Hamish Gray said at Saxon’s funeral, “His professional achievements are a matter of public record, but we know the man, who was always so generous and so kind with his time and his thoughts.” That sums up Saxon. Even though he was the one doing it tough, he religiously checked in on friends, remembered important dates and events, sent good luck messages for exams, commiserated over challenges and defeats, supported others who had their own serious diagnoses, and was always around to bounce ideas off – even answering the odd dermatology question.

“While he was receiving treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital I visited often. There I met a medical student Saxon had encouraged to come and see him for advice about a career in dermatology.

Saxon looked beyond his own circumstances, to see a world of optimism and opportunity that he wanted others to enjoy and pursue.

“My fondest memories are of Saxon at home. He on the recliner, me on the sofa. Like Statler and Waldorf we always had something to talk about. Saxon loved to delve deep into issues, and we would spend hours talking about whatever meant something in that moment – his practice, pathology rents, the tennis, what friends were up to, what to do about COVID, what to do about lunch, Eliot’s rugby game, Camille and Saxon’s plans for a pool. Very little was said about his

“Life without him will be difficult, but what I will carry forever is the magnificence of the way Saxon lived.”

AMA (NSW) PRESIDENT DR MICHAEL BONNING

Professor Saxon Smith with son Eliot and wife, Camille. cancer. What so many of us long for in such a time is to remain the main character in our own story. Serious illness can rob us of that centrality as it selfishly expands to fill the space available to devote to others.

Saxon however managed to remain himself and instead expanded his life to ensure no-one was excluded by his cancer.

“Life without him will be difficult, but what I will carry forever is the magnificence of the way Saxon lived.”

During his tenure as AMA (NSW) President Professor Smith advocated for healthcare equity

and spearheaded public health campaigns, notably in sun protection, where his research on sunscreen usage reshaped consumer awareness. He found many people were not aware that sunscreen had an expiry date, that it deteriorated when stored above 25 degrees, and needed to be reapplied after two hours.

His extensive research led to over 90 publications, earning him the Adrian Johnson Prize for his work on topical corticosteroid phobia. In 2019 he was admitted to the Roll of Fellows with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for services to medicine and the association.

In 2022 he was awarded an Order of Australia AM in the general division for significant service to medicine as a dermatologist and researcher and to professional societies.

Professor Saxon Smith’s passing is mourned not only by the medical community but also by his family, including his wife Camille and his son Eliot. dr.

DONATIONS IN PROFESSOR SAXON’S SMITH’S NAME CAN BE MADE TO THE MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CLINICAL TRIALS, ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL USING THE QR CODE HERE. amansw.com.au I 21