Wound infection specialist conferred Emeritus Professor

A LEADING Viennese authority on infections and wound care is now an Emeritus Professor at the University of Huddersfield, home to an inter-disciplinary research group that focuses on his areas of expertise.

Ojan Assadian has a long association with the Medical University of Vienna, where he was first awarded a professorship in the 1990s.  He is currently a consultant in infectious diseases and tropical medicine plus clinical microbiology and infection control at the Medical University and at Vienna General Hospital. 

But in 2014, he met Professor Karen Ousey of the University of Huddersfield and in the following year he was appointed a Professor at the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention that she leads.

When she delivered an oration at the ceremony conferring an Emeritus title on Ojan Assadian, Professor Ousey told how the connection was made.

“Ojan explained that his research interests focused on epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections, wound infection, prevention of surgical site infection, characteristics and clinical application of antiseptics, medical use of low-temperature plasma, and infection control aspects of hospital construction as well as antimicrobial medical devices.

“It was fascinating to hear how he recognised the importance of working in an inter-disciplinary team to improve patient outcomes.  It became apparent to me that his research correlated to work being explored in skin and infection prevention at the University of Huddersfield,” said Professor Ousey.

She said that after his appointment at Huddersfield, his research and teaching focused on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infection, with a strong emphasis on wound infections.

“During his time at Huddersfield, Ojan has promoted both the Skin Institute and University as a centre of excellence for skin and infection research, has prolifically published and been an invited international keynote speaker,” said Professor Ousey.

Professor Assadian returned to Vienna in 2017, but now holds his Emeritus Professorship at the University of Huddersfield and after the award was made he expressed his gratitude and paid tribute to Professor Ousey and her team for the passion, support and inspiration they had provided.