Klaus Veil has provided the following tribute to his colleague and friend.
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It was a sad day for Health Informatics in Australia, the region and the world.
Last Sunday afternoon, Dr Branko Cesnik passed away peacefully at his home in Melbourne
For many years, Branko was the hub of Health Informatics education and research at Monash University. He set up the then Centre for Medical Informatics (CMI) which became a renown facility for post-graduate health informatics distance education.
Branko served as president of the Asia Pacific Association for Medical Informatics (APAMI - he was one of the founders) and the Australian College of Health Informatics (ACHI) as well as a vice-president of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA).
Branko substantially contributed to e-health policy and strategy in Australia through participation in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the National Health Information Group (NHIG) and the Australian Health Information Council (AHIC)
Both the University of New South Wales and Monash University awarded Dr Cesnik honorary Associate Professorships.
I first worked with Branko well over 10 years ago when I was CIO of a large healthcare organisation in Sydney and was always impressed by his independent mind and clear view of matters. Because of his enthusiasm for accelerated use of IT in medicine our paths crossed many times professionally as well as personally.
Doctors who worked with Branko fondly recall the pleasure of exchanging, bouncing and debating ideas and advice with Branko as he worked at both Monash University and as an emergency medicine doctor at hospitals in Melbourne.
Academic colleagues valued his innovative and bi-partisan approach that reflected both his clinical experience and academic focus which were always evident. Branko's awareness of the utilitarian needs across health IT issues made him a significant contributor to the process of moving towards standards such as HL7 and some of the more innovative options that appeared over the last decade.
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Despite his progressing illness, in October last year the Board of HL7 Australia had the privilege to again experience Branko's skilful facilitation and sound strategic advice at our Board Day in Melbourne.
Branko leaves us a wonderful legacy of enthusiastic practitioners of IT in healthcare and thoughtful questioners of the 'status quo' that hopefully will persist until his visions are fulfilled. In the short time since the news of his passing, messages have poured in from the USA, Brazil, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. all sharing our dismay and grief at this great loss to our international community.
On behalf of the health informatics community, I would like to acknowledge Branko's outstanding contribution to progressing health informatics in Australia and worldwide. Heartfelt condolences go to his wife Wendy and his two daughters.
Branko, you will be missed.
Klaus Veil
HL7 Australia
Funeral Arrangements
The funeral will be held Thursday 14th June, 10.30, at WD Rose Funerals, Burwood Chapel, 339 Warrigal Road, BURWOOD 3125, Victoria (Melway: p60 H6)
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I share all the sentiments and also wish to pass on my personal condolences.
David.
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