The Hon Dr Basil S Hetzel
AC MD DUniv(SA) KSJ FRCP FRACP FFPHM FTSE

Dr Hetzel graduated in medicine from the University of Adelaide in 1944.  After postgraduate study in Adelaide, New York (Fulbright Research Scholar) and London, he was Reader and Michell Professor of Medicine at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (University of Adelaide 1959-1968), Foundation Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne (1968-1975), and first Chief, CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition (1975-1985).

In 1971 he gave the Boyer Lectures for the ABC on Life and Health in Australia.  Subsequently his Penguin book “Health and Australian Society” sold nearly 40,000 copies.

He has been involved in the prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) since 1964 when his team showed in Papua New Guinea that brain damage due to severe iodine deficiency could be prevented by the correction of iodine deficiency before pregnancy.  Iodine deficiency is now recognised to be the most common preventable cause of brain damage in the world today and this work has led to a global program for prevention with an at risk population estimated by WHO, to be 2 billion from 130 countries.

In 1985 he founded with international colleagues a non-government organisation “The International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders” which is now an international multidisciplinary network of 600 professionals in the field of medicine, nutrition, education and technology, from 90 countries.  He was Executive Director (1985-1995 and Chairman (1995-2001).

The ICCIDD has worked closely with WHO, UNICEF and the Ministries of Health of governments of IDD affected countries.  In 1999 a WHO Report on Progress revealed that of the 130 IDD affected countries 109 had national programs and overall 2/3rds of households had access to iodized salt.

He is a Life Member of the Public Health Association of Australia and of the Australasian Epidemiological Association (IEA) and an Honorary Member of the International Epidemiology Association.

In 1990 he was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia for his services to public health both National and International and was the recipient of the 1997 RSL Anzac Peace Price.
Dr Hetzel was Lieutenant Governor of South Australia (1992-2000) and former Chancellor of the University of South Australia (1992-1998).

He is currently the Chairman of the Hawke Centre at the University of South Australia.

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