February 2023 saw a significant milestone for the Skin Health Institute’s Occupational Dermatology Clinic as it turned 30!
Originally founded by current president A/Prof Rosemary Nixon AM and nurse Kath Frowen, it was initially held at Monash Medical Centre. It then transferred to the then Skin and Cancer Foundation (now SHI) in 2001 when the Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre (ODREC) was established. Since that time, over 4,300 patients have been patch tested in the clinic, by Rosemary and Drs Jen Cahill and Adriene Lee.
ODREC is Australia’s only occupational dermatology clinic and has created an amazing resource, with few similar occupational dermatology databases elsewhere in the world.
Pictured is an early photo of the ODREC team in 2001, with Rosemary, Thai dermatologist Dr Praneet Sajjachareonpong, Kath Frowen and then Research Fellow, Dr Jacinta Opie.