Happy Birthday to Dr Francis (Harding) Burns OAM (St John's 1943 - 48) who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. 

Dr Burns is credited with establishing the first unit for Alcoholism at both Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney in 1975 and Concord Hospital in 1985. His early studies of emergency patients formed the basis for further research into indicators of problem drinking. Dr Burns was awarded the Dux of Saint Ignatius College, Riverview in 1942 and was awarded an 'Exhibition Scholarship' to St John's College in 1943 to study Medicine. 

From 1980 until 1998, Dr Burns was the President of the Drug and Alcohol Foundation in NSW and was a Foundation Member of the Chapter of Addiction Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians since its establishment in 2003. In 1996 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to medicine. 

The OIU would like to congratulate Dr Burns on his long and distinguished career, and wish him a very happy 100th birthday.