Larkins, Richard Graeme (1943 - )

Richard Larkins' connection with medicine at the University of Melbourne spanned four decades, including medical training, Stewart Professor of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (1984-97) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (1998-2003).

During that time, he excelled in patient care, research and medical education.

He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in 2003.

After undertaking medical training and a PhD in London, Richard Larkins started research on a model for non-insulin dependent diabetes in 1970. In an article in Nature he and colleague F.I.R. ('Skip') Martin demonstrated a unique defect in one form of spontaneous laboratory diabetes. Larkins then showed that this defect could be partially reversed by dietary restriction and control of blood glucose. This led to the realisation of a general characteristic of non-insulin dependent diabetes in humans.

Larkins subsequently demonstrated that the defect in insulin release was related to impaired glucose utilisation by the Islets of Langerhan in the pancreas. In the 1980s, he and Marjorie Dunlop demonstrated that panecreatic islets could synthesise phospholipids directly from glucose thus providing a link between glucose metabolism and insulin release. He was also involved in research that showed a relationship between prostaglandins and structural changes in the kidneys.

While Larkins revelled in research, he was also active in medical education and wrote, co-wrote or co-edited a number of textbooks.

After nearly five years as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in 2003.

"Richard fought for the University of Melbourne, the Department of Medicine, and the faculty, and I am sure he will use those skills to fight for Monash just as vigorously."
- Professor Bruce Singh at a farewell function to mark his departure to take up his Monash post in 2003.

Events

1967 - 1969	Resident Medical Officer, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
1970 - 1972	Assistant Endocrinologist, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
1972 - 1974	Churchill Research Fellow, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
1974 - 1977	Physician to Endocrine Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
1978 - 1983	First Assistant, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital.
1978 - 1983	Director, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
1982	Awarded Eric Susman Prize for Medical Research.
1982 - 1984	President, Endoctrine Society of Australia.
1983	Publication of Textbook of Clinical Medicine: An Approach To Patients' Major Problems co-edited by Priscilla Kincaid-Smith, Larkins and Gregory Whelan.
1983	Reader in Medicine, University of Melbourne.
1984 - 1997	Stewart Professor of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
1985	Publication of A Practical Approach to Endocrine Disorders
1991 - 1995	Chairman, Accreditation Committee of he Australian Medical Council.
1993	Publication of Clinical Skills: The Medical Interview, Physical Examination And Assessment Of The Patient's Problems co-authored with Richard Smallwood.
1997 - 2000	Member, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council.
1997 - 2000	Member, Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.
1997 - 2000	Chairman, National Health and Medical Research Council.
1998 - 2003	University of Melbourne Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Dean

• Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne (1991 - )

  [1998 - 2003]

Professorial Chair

• Department of Medicine: The Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital, The University of Melbourne (1955 - )

  [1984 - 1997]