Basil Donovan AO FAHMS is regarded as the pioneer of sexual health research in Australia and had a founding role in this new medical specialty.. He is a NHMRC Practitioner Fellow and a registered Sexual Health and Public Health Physician. He heads the Sexual Health Program at the Kirby Institute. The Program is involved in wide-ranging clinical and pubic health research, including national surveillance networks. Professor Donovan is a past President (2013 – 2015) of the International Society for STD Research.

Research interests:
Populations of interest include sex workers, sexual and gender minorities, youth, Indigenous people living in rural and remote settings, travellers, prisoners, and juvenile offenders.

Other research interests:
Enhanced and molecular surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, the population impact of STI vaccines, the health impact of the law and human rights, health services, rapid and advanced testing technology, and economic evaluation.

Broad research areas:
Population Health, Epidemiology, Indigenous Health, HIV/AIDS, and Infectious Diseases.

Society memberships & professional activities:
Fellow, Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP); Fellow, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, RACP; Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland; Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, London; Past President, International Society for STD Research (ISSTDR) ; Fellow, Australian Academy for Health and Medical Sciences; Patron of Touching Base - People with Disabilities and Sex Workers Coming Together.