Tributes for Professor Rinaldo Bellomo after death at just 67

An Australian professor who helped save millions of lives will be remembered as one of the world’s most influential scientific minds of our time.

Professor Rinaldo Bellomo died on Tuesday after a short illness. Picture: Mark Stewart

A much-loved and visionary Victorian named one of the world’s most influential scientific minds of our time and whose work is credited with saving millions of lives globally died on Tuesday after a short illness.

Rinaldo Bellomo, 67, was a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Monash University, Professor in the Department of Critical Care at the University of Melbourne, an Honorary Fellow at The Florey, and Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of NSW.

He was also an Honorary Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney.

Monash University said for seven years he was named one of the world’s most influential scientific minds of our time. Professor Bellomo was also described as one of the researchers “influencing the future direction of their field, and of the world”.

A much respected and cutting edge scientific leader, Monash said he published work that his peers recognised as vital to science.

“As co-founder and co-director of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Rinaldo trained and inspired a whole generation of critical care researchers that are now changing practice around the world in areas like acute kidney injury and sepsis,”

Professor Sophia Zoungas, head of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash, said.

The Victorian was considered one of our greatest and most influential scientific minds. Picture: Mark Stewart

Professor Bellomo’s many honours included an NHMRC Achievement Award and an Austin Health Distinguished Scientist Award.

Close friend and president of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Professor David Story said over the last 30 years Professor Bellomo had become one of the world’s leading intensive care medicine researchers and thinkers.

Professor Story said he worked on a remarkable 1845 publications and 150,000 citations.

“Much of this was with extensive national and international collaborations notably through the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, where he was the founding Chair,” Professor Story said.

“Rinaldo was passionate about supporting early and mid-career researchers both within and beyond Australia.

“He was a supervisor, mentor, and sponsor to his many Graduate Researchers and innumerable emerging researchers in both clinical and discovery science.”

Professor David Story said his close friend was one of the world’s leading intensive care medicine researchers and thinkers. Photo: Phoebe Powell

Professor Bellomo was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 for distinguished service to intensive care medicine as a biomedical scientist and researcher, through infrastructure and systems development to manage the critically ill.

“As a person, Rinaldo had endless energy and enthusiasm for new ideas and determination to implement sound evidence,” Professor Story said.

“He had a great sense of humour and all who knew him would recall references to Machiavelli or Dante.

“He was an opinion leader who many would turn to, including hospital leaders. Often ‘What does Rinaldo think?’ was heard for a critical decision requiring sound judgement.”

Professor Stephen Warrillow, the director of Intensive Care at Austin Health described his friend and colleague as one of the greatest medical researchers of our time.

“Rinaldo’s contribution to improving care for critically ill patients has literally saved the lives of millions of people around the world and it is hard to overstate his achievements,” he said.

“Yet he should be equally celebrated for his compassion, humour, gracious humility, generosity and kindness.

“To his patients, their families, students, colleagues and collaborators, Rinaldo was an incredible source of strength, wisdom and support. His teaching, example and legacy are treasured by all of us who are charged with the awesome task of continuing his work. Our thoughts are with his family who he loved so very much.”

Rinaldo Bellomo is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Hilary and brother Paolo. In memory of Professor Bellomo and in lieu of flowers his family said they would welcome donations to Austin Research.

Originally published as Tributes for Professor Rinaldo Bellomo after death at just 67