Colleagues admire outgoing Professor David Williams

The Associate Dean (Academic) MDHS and long-time Biomedicine Program Director announces his retirement.

Intelligent, genuine and accomplished – with impeccable taste in music and a special spot for the St Kilda Football Club  – is how colleagues in the School of Biomedical Sciences describe Professor David Alan Williams.

After 33 years with the University of Melbourne, contributing to the cutting-edge teaching and learning at the School, and particularly within the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Professor Williams will retire.

“David Williams gave me the opportunity to undertake my PhD at Melbourne and provided me with an exceptionally strong grounding in cell physiology that helped differentiate me from other muscle biologists and facilitate my career independence,” says Professor Gordon Lynch, now Department colleague and Director of the Centre for Muscle Research.

“David was a major influence on me, not just professionally, but also on a deeply personal level. I will always be grateful for the faith he showed in me. David gave me my start and I hope that my achievements provide him with much pride and satisfaction.”

Dr Garron Dodd, a senior lecturer in the Department also reflects there are very few people you meet in your working life that are “unreservedly intelligent, genuine, humble and accomplished, yet possess an absolute razor-sharp taste in music”.

“Dave, you are just an all-around outstanding bloke, and you will be so missed. Thank you for being such a fantastic role model and have a fantastic retirement."

Professor Williams’ work as Biomedicine Program Director since 2011 has ensured thousands of students enhanced their understanding of the human body and its full complexity.

Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Professor Jenny Wilkinson-Berka says: “His commitment has always been to provide opportunities for academic and personal growth that were invaluable and served to increase students’ understanding of the global nature of healthcare and biomedical research”.

Most notably, Professor Williams’ role in helping to establish and oversee the growth of the Bachelor of Biomedicine has led to the success of the highly sought-after undergraduate program. It is widely recognised as providing an ideal preparation for a career in medicine or professional health.

Professor Williams was instrumental in ensuring a knowledge of the normal structure and function of the body and consideration of the determinants of disease were at the core of the studies.

After graduating from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Science and PhD in Animal Physiology in 1982, Professor Williams has enjoyed many career highlights including authorship of numerous journal articles about cell-to-cell communication, and membership of the Australian Academy of Science's National Committee for Biomedical Sciences (NCBMS).

Read more about Professor David Alan Williams