Vale Clinical Professor Saxon Smith

Born in 1976, Saxon Smith graduated medicine in 2000 from the University of Otago, New Zealand, earned a Master’s Degree in Health Law from the University of Sydney in 2006, and was a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

His Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) through the University of Sydney explored the “Assessment of treatment confounders and interventions to reduce treatment non-adherence in paediatric atopic dermatitis.”

Clinical Professor Smith practiced dermatology at several teaching hospitals including St Vincent’s, John Hunter, Liverpool and Royal North Shore. Most recently he was in private practice in Gosford & St Leonards, and a visiting medical officer at the SAN in Wahroonga.

In 2019 he was admitted to the Roll of Fellows with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for services to medicine and the association, in the same year he received a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the Australasian College of Dermatologists for services in dermatology, education, research & college committees. In 2022 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine as a dermatologist and researcher and to professional societies.

Professor Smith presented at numerous national and international conferences and had over 90 publications and over 130 published abstracts in peer-reviewed journals. He received the Adrian Johnson Prize from the Australasian College of Dermatologists in 2010.

He served as AMA (NSW) President from 2014 – 2016 during which time he worked tirelessly to represent doctors and patients. He spent 6 years on the AMA Federal Council, 16 years on the AMA (NSW) Council and 10 years on the Board of Directors including as chair for 2 years. He is a past chair of the Australasian College of Dermatologists Representatives Committee & Public Affairs Committee.

As AMA (NSW) President, Professor Smith was a prominent spokesperson for the sun protection public health campaign. His ground-breaking research on sunscreen was pivotal in educating consumers about proper sunscreen usage. Professor Smith’s research found many people were not aware that sunscreen had an expiry date; that it deteriorates when stored above 25 degrees; that it needs to be reapplied after two hours; and that you need two tablespoons to cover the whole body.

He was a Clinical Professor with The Australian National University and an Honorary Associate with The University of Sydney.

In 2016 Professor Smith co-wrote a children’s book about eczema inspired by his then five-year-old son, who was affected by the condition.

Professor Smith is survived by his wife Camille and son Elliot.

Clinical Professor Smith with his family in 2016 launching the book Elliot’s Meditotz Adventure

Last year Clinical Professor Smith was nominated as an AMA (NSW) Health Hero by Alex White.  We thought it was worth repeating this beautiful dedication.

“Saxon’s humility, compassion, intellectual curiosity and consultative, respectful style is obvious. The best word to describe him is assiduous”

Alex White, Former AMA Federal Director of Medical Practice, health policy adviser and current Corporate Affairs executive, shared the following:

I am in the somewhat unique position of knowing Saxon both professionally as well as personally as a patient. The first being eight years ago as a federal AMA staffer while Saxon represented NSW on Federal Council, as well as a specialist on the Council of Private Specialist Practice. Most recently as a patient, I have been able to see and experience the way he brings all of his best attributes to how he provides care.

Clinical Professor Saxon Smith is a dermatologist, former President of the Australian Medical Association (NSW) and clinical professor at Australian National University.

Saxon’s humility, compassion, intellectual curiosity and consultative, respectful style are obvious. But perhaps the best word to describe him is assiduous.

His Order of Australia award citation – for significant service to medicine as a dermatologist and researcher, and to professional societies – lists 74 unique contributions including to medical colleges, professional societies, associations, academic institutions, NSW Health and in research.

Practically, this list represents the enormous contribution Saxon makes across all the domains in which he is involved:

• To research including through clinical trials and publication of his and his colleagues’ research.
• In supporting the next generation of dermatologists as a clinical supervisor.
• Advancing the best interest of medical practitioners, ensuring their voices are represented and policy decisions are made in their best interests.
• And as an advocate and spokesperson, for the whole state of NSW and its medical workforce as NSW AMA Vice President and President, and through campaigns of personal professional interest around skin cancer prevention, smoking cessation, firearms policy, and improving health literacy.
• And of course, his role caring for his countless patients.

Speaking as a patient, when I first reached out to Saxon to see if I could get a bit of help, he responded within minutes: is it urgent, how can I help, of course I’ll help in any way I can. And he has done so in that unique way that makes Saxon who he is – with humility, compassion, respect and assiduously. And I’ve seen the same applied with his other patient interactions, treating them with respect and genuine interest, addressing family members by first name too and also asking after them.

My interactions with Saxon as a patient also sum him up well. When the clinical component of the consultation is over, he is quick to tell me what he has learnt and what he has been up to. Quick to share the most recent interaction he’s had with industry to understand the latest developments and what their research is showing; the latest new drug approved by the FDA; what he and his specialist colleagues have been learning and doing to continue advancing their knowledge and providing patients with the best care; and sometimes (maybe often) that if the TGA delegates had more experience, more patients would have access to better treatments earlier.

It’s a privilege to be able to nominate Saxon as a Health Hero and a recognition he absolutely deserves

Saxon Smith with wife Camille at the AMA (NSW) 2015 gala dinner