Professor Mark Shephard

Professor Mark Shephard OAM, BSc(Hons), MSc, MAIMS, MAACB, FFSc(RCPA), PhD is Director of the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing. He has extensive experience in translational research, implementation and management of large national and international point-of-care testing networks involving diabetes management, acute care pathology testing, and sexually transmitted infections. Mark is the Course Co-ordinator and principal lecturer for the Flinders University’s Graduate Certificate in Global Point-of-Care Testing, the first postgraduate academic qualification globally in point-of-care testing.

Mark was a member of the Australian Government’s National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Committee (NPAAC) Point-of-Care Testing Drafting Committee (2013-2015), which developed national guidelines for the conduct of point-of-care testing in Australia.

In 2009, Mark was received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Flinders University in recognition of his significant contributions to the improvement of Aboriginal health in Australia and his services to the University. In 2011, Mark was elected a Founding Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Faculty of Science.

From 2013-present, Mark has served as Chair of the WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) Special Interest Group on Global Point-of-Care Testing. Since 2014, Mark has been a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Technical Committee on Point-of-Care Diagnostic Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections. In January 2017, Mark’s International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing was formally designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections Point-of-Care Testing.

Mark has authored over 100 peer-reviewed published papers and book chapters in the national and international literature. He is principal author/editor of the text book A Practical Guide to Global Point-of-Care Testing (published in November 2016).

Mark received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Australian honours list and an Australian of the Year Award in 2004. These awards acknowledged Mark’s work in point-of-care testing.