James Morton AM is an Australian medical doctor and advocate for children with autism spectrum disorders. Morton is a specialist haematologist and oncologist at Brisbane's Mater Hospital and a senior specialist with the Leukaemia & Bone Marrow Transplant Service at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.[1]
Early life
editDr James Morton was born in Brisbane, Queensland.[1]
Morton graduated with a MBSS from the University of Queensland in 1987 with a university medal and completed his general medical training in 1991.[1]
Career
editIn 1996, Morton travelled to the United States where he was an international fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, before returning to Australian in 1998.[1]
Morton was previously board member of Icon Cancer Care and the Leukaemia Foundation, where he was credited with developing the World's Greatest Shave initiative into an annual national campaign from a one-off event in Lismore, New South Wales.[2]
Morton is arguably best known for his advocacy of children with autism.[3][4]
Following a report commissioned by Morton, Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced that $190 million of additional funding would be delivered to support services for autistic children.[5][6] The funding announcement was welcomed by Morton who described it as a "monumental package".
Morton was named in the 2015 Australia Day Honours and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition for his significant service to children with autism spectrum disorders and to the field of oncology.[7][8]
On Queensland Day in 2020, Morton was named as a Queensland Great.[4][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Biography: Dr James Morton, Icon Cancer Centre. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Blok, Nerida (4 April 2006) Shave for a cure started here in Lismore, The Northern Star. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Fidler, Richard (15 August 2011) James Morton's mission to create better Autism services for his son, Conversations. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b Davies, Hannah (6 June 2020) 2020 Queensland Greats list celebrates our local heroes, The Courier Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Kathryn (14 May 2007) Autism costs community $7billion annually: report, The World Today. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Bradford, Gillian (3 October 2007) for children with autism, The World Today. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Harazim, Kristina (25 January 2015) Work in oncology and autism spectrum disorders recognised, ABC News. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Award: A James Morton, Australian Honours Search Facility, Australian Government. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ 2020 Queensland Greats recipients, Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 June 2020.