Person
Cockburn, David Michael (1923 - 2016)
OAM
- Born
- 25 August 1923
Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 26 September 2016
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Optometrist
Summary
David Cockburn was an optometrist who combined private practice with a research and teaching career. He pioneered the use of many new techniques in his practice including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, mydriac fundus examination, binocular indirect aphthalmoscopy, and tonometry. His research interests included particularly glaucoma, but also the underlying health issues of patients in relation to their vision problems. Cockburn published 79 papers arising from his research, as well as topics such as why patients complain about their new spectacles. For many years Cockburn contributed to the optometry profession in leading roles in professional and teaching organisations, such as the Victorian College of Optometry, and in the establishment of the National Vision Research Institute of which he was inaugural Chairman for 17 years. He also was active in the campaign for legislative changes so that optometrists could use diagnostic drugs. For many years he served on the editorial board of Clinical and Experimental Optometry.
Details
Chronology
- 1943 - 1946
- Career position - Served with the Royal Australian Navy
- 1950
- Education - Licentiate of Optometric Science (LOSc), Victorian College of Optometry
- 1951 - 1955
- Career position - Member of Council, Victorian Division, Australian Optometrical Association
- 1951 - 2000?
- Career position - In private practice, Hampton, Victoria
- 1953 - 1956
- Career position - Member, Optometrists Registration Board
- 1954 - 1967
- Career position - Member of Council, Victorian College of Optometry
- 1957 - 1969
- Career position - Clinical instructor (part-time), Victorian College of Optometry
- 1963 - 1964
- Career position - Mayor, Sandringham City Council, Victoria
- 1969 - 1998
- Career position - Senior Academic Associate, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne
- 1972 - 1989
- Career position - Foundation Chairman, Board, National Vision Research Institute
- 1973 - ?
- Career position - Member of Council, Victorian College of Optometry
- 1975
- Award - Life Member, Victorian College of Optometry
- 1975 - 1990
- Career position - Chairman, Board of Continuing Education, Victorian College of Optometry
- 1976
- Career position - Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- 1979
- Education - MScOptom, University of Melbourne
- 1982
- Award - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - In recognition of service to optometry
- 1985 - 1990
- Career position - Member, Optometrists Registration Board
- 1987
- Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
- 1999 - ?
- Career position - Associate Professor, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne
- 2002
- Award - J. Lloyd Hewett Award, Optometric Vision Research Foundation
- 2007
- Award - Honorary Life Member, Victorian Division, Optometrists Association Australia
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Cockburn, D. M., 'Profile: Jonathan Nathan DSc: educator, clinician and research leader', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 84 (2003), 91-3. Details
- Cole, B. L., 'David Michael Cockburn OAM: Educator, entertainer, innovator, legend', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 86 (2003), 57-62. Details
Resources
- 'Cockburn, David Michael (19230825-20160926)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1772707. Details
- 'Awarded honorary DSc, 1987', Honorary degree holders, University of Melbourne, 2023, https://about.unimelb.edu.au/notable-alumni-staff/honorary-degree-holders. Details
Reviews
- Cole, Barry L., A history of Australian optometry: two hundred years of beating the tyranny of distance and fighting political battles to find new roles and a new place in health care (2015)
Cockburn, David M., Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 99, (2016), 296. Details
See also
- Cole, Barry L., 'A short history of the Australian College of Optometry 1940 - 2015', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 98 (2015), 411-9. Details
- Gutteridge, Ian F.; Douglas, Ian S.; and Anjou, Mitchell, D., 'David Cockburn OAM MScOptom DSc (Honoris Causa) FACO 25 August 1923 - 26 September 2016: a tribute to David Cockburn, a consummate clinician and educator', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 100 (2017), 399-401. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 5 December 2017, Last modified: 3 July 2018