In Memorium of Dr Mulhearn

Article written by Dr Warwick Benson in consultation with Dr Mulhearn’s family

Many in the Life Insurance Industry will be saddened by the recent death of Dr Richard Mulhearn, on 21 January 2020 just short of his 92nd birthday. Richard had almost 50 years of association with the Life Insurance Industry in Australia, providing excellent, informed and relevant Consultant Medical advice especially in Life underwriting but also in Claims. His gentle and unassuming manner endeared to him to all who had the opportunity to work with him. He was patient and questioners were treated with the utmost respect even though others may have been dismissive or impatient. He had a long and broad experience in medicine outside his insurance work – at the bedside, in consultant practice, as advisor in the Pharmaceutical Industry, on the board of Roche Pharmaceuticals in Australia and Honorary Service to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Richard graduated in Medicine in 1951 and after residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, he spent time in London at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Queens Square and sat and passed the examination for Membership of the Royal College of Physicians UK. Though he did not specialise in Neurology on his return to Australia, he was on the consultant staff at RPA and mentored large numbers of young trainee physicians who passed through the general medical unit on which he served.

He subsequently obtained Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physician (MRACP) and later was made a Fellow of both the UK and Australian Colleges.

Among  his various roles, he was for many years, the Honorary Secretary of the Australasian College of Physicians, was influential in gaining support form the Pharmaceutical Industry for Research and was involved in the establishment of the Clinical Pharmacology Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney. For his services to Medicine he received the OAM in the 1986 Australian Day Honours. Richard was a man of deep faith, never imposed on others or pretentious but lived out in kindness and compassionate care for others. We express our sympathy to his family at this time of loss

We honour as we farewell one of the most outstanding doctors who has worked in the Life Insurance Industry in Australia.