Microbiology icon retires from TUH

He’s been behind the microscope making critical diagnoses at Townsville University Hospital for 30 years, but next month, clinical director of microbiology Dr Robert Norton will retire.

After cutting his teeth in hospitals in Sydney, Adelaide and as the sole doctor on Groote Eylandt, the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands, Dr Norton said a microbiologist role at the then Townsville General Hospital called to him.

“Working in the remote Indigenous communities of Groote Eylandt and Tiwi Islands sparked my passion for infectious diseases and Indigenous health,” he said.

“I realised though, that while that time in my career had taught me great resilience and was exciting, it was not sustainable.

“The clinical microbiologist role in Townsville was the perfect setting to further in my interests in Indigenous health and infectious diseases.

“It was not meant to be forever; however, my family loved it here, so we never left and in 2003 I was appointed to the role of clinical director.”

Dr Norton said he had gained a depth of experience in Townsville he could only have wished for.

“Working on the islands you didn’t get a chance to diagnose people; there were no laboratories and if patients were severely unwell, they were sent to major hospitals.

“I’ve worked collaboratively, researching, and diagnosing the rare bacterial infection melioidosis, which is endemic to North Queensland during the wet season and found in soil.

“One of the first cases I ever saw was a six-year-old boy who died which imprinted on me the devastation of this disease.”

This prompted nearly 30 years of research and collaboration on melioidosis by Dr Norton.

“We’ve been able to break ground in the identification of the illness, better understand the susceptibility of certain people and publish research on how to minimise the risk of lab transmission of melioidosis,” he said.

“The Townsville pathology laboratory is also a reference laboratory that provides clinical advice on the disease internationally.”

Dr Norton said of all his diagnoses, the diagnosis of an extremely rare infection in a one-year-old boy from a rural property in northwest Queensland in 2015 would stay with him forever. 

“The infection was Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri which is active in warm, untreated water,” he said.

“It enters through the nose and causes severe inflammation and brain destruction, and due to an underdeveloped sliver of bone in the nose of children separating the outside from the brain’s surface and allowing the naegleria to pass though, children are more susceptible.

“At the time there had been only 300 cases worldwide and three of those were in children within a 100-kilometre radius of this case.

“The child died; it was very tragic, and the family was devastated.

“The diagnosis prompted an education campaign to the properties surrounding the family’s to ensure they had the correct water filters to prevent Naegleria fowleri passing through.

“We also raised awareness nationally on ABC’s Australian Story.”

Dr Norton said his career at Townsville University Hospital also enabled him to continue his interest in rheumatic fever.

“Rheumatic fever is a fundamental problem in Indigenous communities, and I brought that interest with me from my time on the islands where I really gained an appreciation for how difficult it is to deliver what we take for granted in places like Townsville, in very remote communities,” he said. 

“Rheumatic fever is complex and is tied to social factors such as housing, but I’ve enjoyed working with teams in our health service on caring for people diagnosed with rheumatic fever.”

Reflecting on his career, Dr Norton credits his patients for supporting his growth as a doctor.

“It’s the patients who have kept me here; I have learnt a lot of medicine from patients,” he said.

“They’ve taught me every step of the way.

“They’ve allowed me to keep learning, and that is the beauty of medicine.”

Dr Norton said the real magic of microbiology happened behind the scenes in the laboratory.

“We have an extraordinarily talented and diligent laboratory staff, who are passionate about the work they do,” he said.

“They always go the extra mile for patient care and without them, the diagnosis would remain unclear; they are the real heroes.” 

Dr Norton, who will retire officially on September 25, said it was flattering and humbling to farewell his patients and colleagues.

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside with colleagues like Drs Harry Stalewski, Eric Guazzo and Yong Mong Tan for the better part of my career,” he said.

“I’ll miss the friendships and patients I’ve known for many years, but I know it’s time to go.”

Dr Norton didn’t hesitate when asked his reason for retirement.

“Grandchildren,” he said.

“I have five grandchildren aged between three and nine years old.

“You only have them at an age where they think you are the most wonderful person ever for a short period.

“I enjoy the fact that they don’t want to go home and are happy to stay with Grandma and Grandad.”

Dr Norton said he and his wife planned to spend more time in Adelaide in retirement.

“We have a house there and I hope to do more travelling and reading and also spend some time simply doing nothing,” he said.

“I’ll also welcome my grandchildren to visit Adelaide as often as they like.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes congratulated Dr Norton on his retirement.

“Dr Norton has had an exemplary career and made a remarkable impact on so many of his patients and colleagues over 30 years,” Mr Keyes said.

“We’ve been incredibly privileged to have a clinician of Dr Norton’s calibre with our health service; a sentiment I know is shared by many of his peers.

“While I’m sad to farewell him, I’m delighted to wish him luck in his retirement.