OUR TEAM

Bob Kass is one of Australia’s pioneers in the discipline of travel medicine. After working overseas for a number of years he took on the role of General Manager and National Medical Director of the Travel Doctor (TMVC) in 1989 and over a 12 year period grew the organisation from just 2 specialised clinics to more than 23 centres in Australia and overseas. He was Chief Executive Officer for more than 8 years.

In 2001 he left to become a consultant to the organisation. Now with Globe Medical he hopes to develop a “model travel medicine practice”. He currently holds a senior lecturer’s appointment in the University of Adelaide’s Department of General Practice where he is involved in their International Health Course. His areas of interest include malaria, traveller’s diarrhoea, emerging infectious diseases and tropical child health. Dr Kass also provides pre-placement health briefings for organisations that place ndividuals and their families overseas.

Dr Kass has served on the Executive Board of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) for 4 years. He holds specialist qualifications in paediatrics and public health medicine and has worked in a number of overseas countries, including Western Samoa, Papua New Guinea, UK, Tonga, Tokelau, Thailand, Laos, India, Uganda and Burma. He has also worked as a paediatrician in Central Australia where much of his work was with aboriginal communities. Over the last few years he has been invited to speak at many international meetings on the role of Travel Clinics as a specialized service for travelers.

During the SARS crisis of 2003 he conducted numerous workshops on the “real risk” versus “perceived risk” of exposure. During 2004 he visited Singapore and Taiwan to speak on the role of Travel Clinics in the practice of travel medicine. He highlighted their role during outbreaks like SARS and Avian influenza.

In 2005 he served as a member of the Tsunami Committee providing input to the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia. Dr Kass is a regular contributor to a number of Australian medical magazines and sits on the national committee for travel health THAG (Travel Health Advisory Group). This group comprises representatives from medical, pharmaceutical and the travel industry working to provide national guidelines on travel health.

According to Dr Kass, “Travel medicine is about teaching travellers on prevention and should not be practiced from a “cookbook”!

Dr Phillips has worked in the discipline of travel-related medicine since 1989. She has a special interest in tropical medicine and travel-related medical problems. She is widely traveled and has worked in a number of overseas locations including Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Bangladesh and the UK. She has also worked for a number of years as a medical officer in the Northern Territory. Dr Phillips has published a number of articles in peer review journals including a definitive paper on the “User acceptability of currently used anti-malarials.” Dr Phillips has maintained her interest in primary health care and is also accredited to perform medicals for recreational divers.