Stroke Foundation will honour Professor Amanda (Mandy) Thrift with honorary life membership.
Professor Thrift has previously held positions including the Chair of the Research Advisory Committee, the Special Interest Member representing research, and a Member of the Endowment Fund Management Committee.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said the honorary life membership is the least Stroke Foundation could do to thank Professor Thrift for her remarkable contribution to the organisation and the stroke community.
“It’s a fitting tribute to honour Professor Thrift with such a prestigious award, she is a thought leader in stroke and makes significant contributions in leading national community-based clinical trials and health service research which leads to new treatments, improved interventions and changes in policy and practice,” Dr Murphy said.
“Professor Thrift has championed our mission to prevent stroke, save lives and enhance recovery at every opportunity. Her tireless generosity, wisdom, knowledge, and dedication has helped pave the way for the future of stroke in Australia.”
Professor Thrift is a past President of the Stroke Society of Australasia (SSA), Australasia’s peak multi-disciplinary stroke organisation, she was the first public health professional to hold that position.
Professor Thrift will be presented with the honour at the Stroke Awards ceremony in Melbourne by Stroke Foundation Ambassador Sir Peter Cosgrove.
“I feel overwhelmed that the Board would honour my role, in reality our achievements were a joint effort. I need to thank all of the members of the Research Advisory Committee for their enthusiasm and support in ensuring such a quality grants program,” Professor Thrift said.
“It’s such a privilege to be recognised, life membership to me means I’ll have a lifelong connection to the Stroke Foundation and will enable me to continue the important work I do in stroke research.”
Stroke is one of the country’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability. It’s estimated an Australian will have a stroke every 19 minutes.
