Jack Marshall could be described as the epitome of "the quiet achiever", so many may not be aware of just how much Jack has achieved and how so deservedly he was awarded the Membership of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day's Honours, 2002.
Many will not be aware of just what Jack was up to when he was so quietly working away on his own up in the Faculty or FMP offices. But those of us who know him well realise just how much he was doing for general practice education. This has now been acknowledged and justly and well rewarded.
A perusal of his 'cv' would make anyone wonder just how he could have fitted so much into his life. I can do no more than just highlight some of the more relevant aspects.
Jack graduated from Queens University, Belfast in 1955. He obtained Honours in Anatomy, a Medal in Bacteriology and a Scholarship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After four years at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast he came to Adelaide and from 1958 to 1971 he practised with Keith Basheer, just across the road from my own practice. In 1958 he was also appointed a Clinical Assistant in Cardiology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. In 1992 he was made a Senior Visiting Specialist at the Hospital. He still retains this position and works part-time in Medical Administration being responsible for incoming medical correspondence. From 1982 to 1992 he was Coordinator of General Practice at the RAH.
In the Faculty he was a member of the Faculty Board from 1965 to 1992 and Treasurer from 1986 to 1995.
While all this was going on, Jack was playing a very active and pioneering role in the educational aspects of the Family Medicine Programme (FMP). Initially, from 1973 to 1976 he was Medical Educator and National Coordinator Educational Program Production. From 1977 to 1994 he was Assistant Director of Education (Educational research and Resource Development)-FMP. From 1982 to 1994 he was National Director of Resources Development.
Since 1977 he has been Director ofcheck Programme, RACGP. Many may not be aware how highly check is regarded. It has given the RACGP great respect nationally and internationally in its educational role for general practice and is used either unchanged or modified in several other countries.
From 1973 to 1993 Jack was on the Editorial Board of the Australian Family Physician.
The College Examination has been an especial interest of Jack's. From 1971 to 1978 he was the Chairman of the S.A. Faculty's Examination Committee. As well as this he has been at times Coordinator of the Patient Management Problem Section, the MCQ section and the Clinical Interpretation Section of the Fellowship Examination.
Nationally he has been a very active member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medical Education (ANZAME). He was a member from 1972 to 1994, VicePresident 1983 to 1986 and President 1986 to 1988.
From its early days Jack has had an interest in the activities and development of WONCA. From 1983 to 1986 he was Chairman of the WONCA Standing Committee on Under-graduate and Graduate/ Vocational Education and Evaluation. In 1986 this committee combined with the CME Committee and became the Medical Education Committee, with Jack the chairman till 1992 when the committee structure of WONCA was altered. He then became convenor of the Working Party on Distance Education until 1995.
Besides this Jack has had extensive international recognition. In 1980 he was Visiting Fellow (by invitation) at the Program for Educational Development, McMaster's University, Ontario, Canada. In 1984 he was consultant to the American Board of Family Practice, in 1985 WHO Consultant to the Government of Myanmar and in 1990 WHO Consultant on CME in Seoul, Korea and Fakuoko, Japan and WHO Consultant on Vocational training, Peoples' Republic of China.
In addition to this he has been Visiting Professor, School of Medical Education, Southern Illinois University for a short time and from 1996 to 1998 Visiting Professor Master's Program in Family Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia.
His publication list is very extensive including 20 publications in AFP, 275 check programs, 17 published papers together with 33 invited papers. Also he has published four books on education.
Jack now resides at Victor Harbour and is hopefully a little less involved in so many activities. Nevertheless he is still busy but finds time to relax with his painting. Well done Jack and congratulations from us all.
Dr David A Game
Originally published in RACGP SA&NT Faculty News March 2002 p.8