Katherine Brown – inaugural Australasian Sexual Health Medicine Award recipient

1 April 2019
stethoscope and red love heart

Associate Professor Katherine Brown is well known in the Local Health District, as the Director of the Sexual Health Service. Katherine was recently the recipient of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine division for her contribution to the discipline of sexual health medicine. It was the first time the award has been given.

Passionate about her work and mentoring others, Katherine has played a pivotal role in the advancement of sexual health services within the Illawarra Shoalhaven and more broadly through her clinical service development, community development, policy and advocacy and the promotion of the speciality through undergraduate education and general practice training.

Katherine has initiated many innovative outreach models of care in the District. These include screening and flu vaccination of sex workers, chlamydia screening at local music festivals, as well as providing a clinical presence in local drug and alcohol services. For more than 20 years she has been the only sexual health physician in the District and has developed the service as an excellent regional centre for HIV care.

As an Associate Professor Katherine is also a devoted teacher and has promoted the speciality widely through undergraduate degrees, general practice, nursing and

advanced training. Katherine is also a state wide leader in sexual assault and forensic medicine and recently held a position as Clinical Advisor to NSW Health in Sexual Assault.

When asked about the award Katherine said, “I was both surprised and honoured to receive this award. It has been a privilege to be involved in the development and recognition of Sexual Health Medicine as a specialist field of clinical practice, which now allows for the development of a sustainable workforce. I look forward to continuing our work in ISLHD with two great multidisciplinary teams to expand service delivery in both sexual health and forensic medicine.”