Dr Ian McCrossin has been honoured for his contribution to dermatology, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Former Australasian College of Dermatology president and NSW dermatologist Dr Ian McCrossin has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of Australia Day celebrations.
Dr McCrossin has been a doctor for more than 50 years, 40 of those as a dermatologist on the south coast of NSW.
He has three practices at Nowra, Mollymook and Merimbula, and also works with the Coonamble Aboriginal Medical Service and has been a staff specialist at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney since the 1990s. He has also been an honourary dermatologist with the Royal Flying Doctors Service (NSW) since 1994.
Speaking to Dermatology Republic ahead of the official announcement, Dr McCrossin said he was surprised by the award and had no idea who had nominated him.
He said he was looking forward to finally being able to talk to his family about it, having been sworn to secrecy until Australia Day.
“I think they’ll be happy – it will be a good reason to try to get together,” he said.
That will be no mean feat for the doctor and his social worker wife Jane, as their three children and grandchild live in Singapore, the UK and Sydney.
Dr McCrossin’s extended family will also be delighted, especially his sister Julie McCrossin, much-loved Australian radio broadcaster, journalist, comedian, political commentator and activist, who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community, particularly through LGBTIQ advocacy roles and to the broadcast media.
Ms McCrossin paid tribute to her older brother’s tireless work in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and to his commitment to his family.
“It’s that capacity to be as committed to family as he is to his professional life,” she told DR.
“Obviously it’s not easy – he has his work as a dermatologist on the south coast and he’s still committed enough to go to Liverpool Hospital in southwest Sydney which I understand is the most multicultural area in Australia.
“He’s still involved with training young doctors. So he’s active not only for his patients but for the profession.
“To be as equally committed to family and profession is a very hard thing to pull off and I genuinely respect him for it. I love him for it.”
Dr McCrossin has been an active member of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD), serving as president from 2009 to 2011, and also as a treasurer and member of the board of censors.
He was made a fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Physicians, Royal Australian College of Physicians, in 2005, and of the ACD in 1983.
Other award highlights include the ACD’s Mervyn Gold Award for Rural Service in 2016, and the ACD’s silver medal in 2018.
As he tells it, Dr McCrossin fell into dermatology almost by accident. He was working as a GP in Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains region and decided to do some extra study to fill in the time.
Dermatology quickly became a passion and he moved into the specialty, developing a keen interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
During his time as ACD president, when he was a member of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges, he advocated for government funding for Specialist Training Program (STP) positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dermatology trainees.
Current ACD president Dr Clare Tait was also part of the group of college members who lobbied for the positions.
Last year the ACD graduated its first ever group of Aboriginal dermatologists in a ceremony at its annual conference in Adelaide.
Most of the graduates had come through the college’s federally funded dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STP.
The graduates were officially presented with their graduation certificates at the conferring ceremony attended by special guest Associate Professor Kelvin Kong, a NSW ENT surgeon and a nominee for this year’s Australian of the Year.
The ACD reported that this was the first time in Australia such a high number of First Nations graduates had conferred together in a medical specialty.
At the time, college president Dr Clare Tait said the program was part of the ACD’s aim to improve the diversity of the dermatology workforce and increase access to care for under-serviced communities.
“We are proud to be the first specialist college to have such a number of First Nations dermatologists conferring together,” she said.
Ms McCrossin also paid tribute to the milestone in a LinkedIn post which included a picture of Dr McCrossin and Professor Kong at the congress.
“During his presentation, Professor Kong referred to my brother, dermatologist and sexual health physician, Dr Ian McCrossin as being an elder who had assisted four young indigenous dermatologists achieve their goals,” she wrote.
“Ian advocated for and successfully obtained commonwealth government funding for dedicated training positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors to specialise in dermatology. I am really proud of my brother.”
Dr McCrossin said he had always felt a connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and working with them around Australia had been a major highlight of his career. Through his work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service he saw patients in remote areas like Menindee and Wilcannia, and helped establish dermatology services at Coonamble and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Services in NSW and Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory.
“I find the Aboriginal people easy to get along with,” he said.
“I firmly believe the only people who can sort out their health issues is the Aboriginal people themselves with the right support. There’s no easy answer, but I think having a workforce that includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dermatologists is important.
“I think we have to select people who come from the country and train people who come from the country. We can’t change the world, but we can help to change the world around us.”
At 74 years, Dr McCrossin said he was spending less time at work, but couldn’t see a time when he would ever give dermatology away all together.
When he is not working, he is spending time with his family and embracing his other passion, sailing. He is active with the International Flying Dutchman Class Association of Australia, as a former national president and current NSW treasurer. He has been a member for some 50 years.
He has three world sailing championships under his belt and still sails whenever he can.
Finding a work-life balance has been key to thriving in his medical career, he said, offering a pearl of wisdom to Australia’s young doctors.
“Have a good work-life balance and try to do something apart from your private practice, something community focussed, something that makes a difference, no matter how small,” he said.
Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia.
