Professor Alicia Jenkins receives RACP International Medal

14/05/22

Professor Alicia Jenkins, the Director of CTC's Diabetes research program, is the 2022 recipient of the RACP International Medal for her outstanding service in developing countries.

For more than 20 years, Professor Alicia Jenkins has donated much of her personal time to increase awareness of the health and life-threatening plight of poor people with diabetes in disadvantaged regions.

Since 2000, she has been an active Board member of the NGO Insulin for Life (IFL), which provides in-date unopened diabetes supplies from nine affluent countries to clinics for the poor with diabetes in over 30 disadvantaged countries. IFL also supports locally-led clinics for youth, and community education and screening days. Professor Jenkins founded IFL USA (about 2003), IFL Global (2015) and became IFL Australia President in 2017.

She recruits and mentors others, including medical students, doctors, nurses and general community members to assist IFL. She facilitates clinical research ranging from short-term summer students to higher degree candidates. Professor Jenkins also has long-standing collaborations with another NGO, Life for a Child, and since 2015 has been on the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Executive Council.

"The 2022 RACP International Medal is a great honour that recognises our sustained efforts to improve diabetes care, particularly in disadvantaged regions," says Alicia. "The related awareness and encouragement will help us continue this important work."