has been admitted to the degree ofDoctorof Medicine (honoris causa) by the .
Themelanoma scientistand 2024 joint Australian of the Yearreceived the award at a ceremony onTuesday,28 Aprilin recognition of histransformational work on the diagnosis and pathological characterisation of melanoma through pioneering pathology, translational cancerresearchand his global medical and research leadership.
The ceremony was presided over byVice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott.Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and ProvostProfessor Annamarie Jagose OAMread the citation, and the presenting dean wasHead of School and Deanof theSydney Medical School.
“It is our great privilege to bestow this honour in recognition of Richard’s lifelong commitment to discovery and the advancement of melanoma science, and his unwavering dedication to helping othersthrough hisresearchwork,” said Professor Scott.
“As oneofAustralia’smost influential medical scientists,Richard’swork has had an extraordinary impact on research, cancer diagnostics and internationally adopted standards, improving outcomes formelanomapatients around the world."
Professor Richard Scolyer AO was awarded an honorary doctorate on Tuesday, 28 April, 2026. Photo:
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LinkProfessorJagosesaid:“Richard hasbeen at the forefront of transforming the diagnosis and pathological understanding of melanoma, through pioneering advances in pathology practice and research.”
“His leadership has been vital in the development of the world’s gold standard melanoma staging and the most comprehensive molecular profiling of melanoma.”
In hisaddress to the cohort,Richardoffered hissincerecongratulationsto everyone who graduated onTuesday.
"What I want to say is this:graduation is not an end point. It is the beginning of a lifetime of learning and curiosity,”hesaid.
“That kind of thinking ledme to work on research that changed advanced melanoma from a certain death to a disease that can now be cured in many people.”
“What you do matters. The questions you ask and the courage you show can change lives.Be brave, be bold, and challenge the status quo. With you, the future isin good hands.Congratulationsto the class of 2026.”
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Professor Richard Scolyer congratulates the class of 2026
A career dedicated to melanomascience
Richard’s early years set the foundation for an exceptional career in medicine, marked by a steady progression through some of the most respected qualifications in the field. After completing a Bachelor of Medical Science, he advanced to earn his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery,establishinghis clinical grounding.
His commitment to research and academic excellence led him to pursue a Doctor of Medicine, deepening hisexpertisein pathology and melanoma research.
Professor Richard Scolyer AO receiving an honorary doctorate from Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott AOon Tuesday, 28 April, 2026. Photo:
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LinkAs his career developed, Richard achieved prestigious professional recognition, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in the United Kingdom–credentials that reflect his international standing in diagnostic pathology.
His contributions to medical science and leadership in cancer research were further acknowledged through his election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, underscoring his influence on both national and global health advancement.
AsCo-MedicalDirector of the Melanoma Institute Australia, he was at the forefront of major improvements in the diagnosis,managementand survival outcomes of melanoma, especially through his pioneering pathology research and the development of internationally adopted guidelines for the clinical management of melanoma.
With more than 1,000 peer reviewed publications, he is regarded as a preeminent authority in dermatopathology and a driving force behind innovations that have reshaped cancer care.
Professor Richard Scolyer AO with his wife Dr Katie Nicoll at the ceremony on 28 April 2026. Image:
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LinkHis global influence is reflected in his service on the WHO Editorial Board for the Classification of Skin Tumours and as Vice Chair of the Melanoma Expert Panel for the American Joint Committee on Cancer, where hisexpertisecontinues to shape international standards.
His contributions have been recognised through the nation’s highest honours, including being named Australian of the Year in 2024 (jointly with Professor Georgina Long AO) for groundbreaking melanoma research and clinical impact. He was the first pathologist to receive the NSW Premier’s Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year Award in 2020, and his international standing is affirmed by the Society for Melanoma Research Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, the ASDP Founders’ Award, and the IAP Distinguished Pathologist Medal also in 2023. In 2021 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medicine and international professional organisations.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Richard is a dedicated mentor, a champion forequitablecancer care in regional and Indigenous communities, and a national leader shaping cancer policy. His career exemplifies innovation,integrityand service.
Hero image: Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Professor Annamarie Jagose, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott,Professor Richard Scolyer AO,Head of School and Deanof theSydney Medical School Professor Jane Bleasel and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professor John Prins (left to right).
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