Dr. Ian Mackie Medical Fellowship

ILS established a Medical Fellowship in honour of Dr. Ian Mackie in order to continue his contribution to the international lifesaving community.

The Fellowship provides young lifesavers and lifeguards with a link to the ILS Medical Committee continuing Dr. Mackie’s belief in the importance of the link between medical issues and their practical application by lifesavers and lifeguards.

Dr. Ian Mackie was a world renowned water safety expert. He served as a member of the Australian Resuscitation Council for 14 years representing both Surf Life Saving Australia and the Royal Life Saving Society. He was the National Medical Advisor to Royal Life Saving Society Australia from 1982 until his death in 2002 and of Surf Life Saving Australia from 1976 to 1996.

Dr. Mackie was the first chair of the ILS Medical Committee and published scholarly lifesaving materials for over four decades. He received many awards for his contribution and was well known for his welcoming and inclusive manner.

Recipients

Recipient for 2008/2010 is Dr. Phil Dickinson.

Phil has a background as a lifeguard, lifesaving competitor, lifesaving competition organizer, lifesaving club president, resuscitation instructor and a medical doctor.

He has an interest and training in critical care. He did his undergraduate medical education at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2003.

Recipient for 2006/2007 was Angela Lawson.

Nominated by Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Angela is a surf lifeguard who has been heavily involved with both royal and surf life saving activities from a young age.

She completed a tenure in the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Leadership Group and Surf Life Saving Australia's National Leadership Camp, and is passionate about decision making at a national level, with input through a number of committees.

Angela was studying medicine at the University of Otago, New Zealand and is the first Dr. Ian Mackie Medical Fellowship recipient.

Purpose

The fellowship allows an active lifesaver or lifeguard to travel to and participate in Medical Committee meetings in order to foster input and dissemination of Medical Committee matters at the critical working lifesaver/lifeguard level.

Selection Criteria

To be considered, applicants must:

1. Be an active lifesaver or lifeguard in good standing.
2. Be active in lifesaving, lifeguarding, competition, teaching, research, developing or managing activities relevant to lifesaving.
3. Have a strong interest in medical/heath care issues related to lifesaving as demonstrated through scholarly activity or educational achievement.
4. Be able to participate in e-mail and telephone communication (preferably in English) to allow effective participation.
5. Be under than 30 years old at the start of the fellowship.
6. Be nominated by an ILS member organisation.
7. Submit two letters of reference from nominating ILS member organisation.

Terms

1. The Fellowship will be granted for a period of two years.
2. The Fellowship will entitle the recipient to participate in all e-mail, conference call and other deliberations of the Medical Committee. The Fellowship recipient will be entitled to raise issues and speak at Medical Committee meetings, but will be a non-voting participant.
3. The Fellowship recipient is encouraged, facilitated and expected to be a lead author or co-author of an ILS Position Statement on an issue mutually agreed upon.
4. The Fellowship will involve one international meeting each year of the two year term to allow participation in ILS Medical Committee Meetings, World Water Safety Conferences, Aquatic Medical/Rescue Conferences and/or participation in a meeting, conference, self-directed learning or activity helpful to the development of medical issues in lifesaving.
5. All application materials must be submitted by email and all requested documents listed under Selection Criteria must be received for candidate consideration. It is preferred that all requested documents are sent as one file. A reply will be sent on receipt of application advising if the application is incomplete or complete.

Process

To ensure efficient administration, the following steps are followed bi-annually on odd years:

• May 1 - Announcement of Fellowship application deadline through member Organisations
• July 1 - Reminder of application deadline
• Aug. 31 - Application deadline
• Oct. 31 - Decision made by Fellowship Selection Committee