Centre for Online Health Director, Professor Anthony Smith, has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). The event held on 31 October 2025 in Odense, Denmark included a formal ceremony followed by an on-campus celebration with over 4000 staff and students from the university. Based on opening remarks from the SDU Rector Jens Ringsmose, "an honorary doctorate is bestowed upon researchers who are considered to have made themselves so scientifically deserving that it is only natural to honour them with the highest scientific degree".
The SDU Faculty of Health Sciences selected Professor Smith for his extensive international academic track record in the field of telehealth and virtual care. During the opening session, Faculty of Health Sciences Dean – Professor Ole Skott explained that Professor Smith was one of the most published telehealth authors globally; has led major telehealth programs for numerous clinical health services; is Editor-in-Chief of one of the leading telemedicine journals - the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare; and has been the scientific chair of the annual international conference Successes and Failures in Telehealth (SFT) for more than two decades.
Receiving this award alongside four remarkable international scientists was a truly humbling experience. For more than a decade, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with SDU, OUH, HCA Children’s Hospital, and CIMT - partnerships built on curiosity, creativity, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare.
Prof Smith has also been actively engaged as an Adjunct Professor with clinicians and researchers from the SDU, Odense University Hospital, and the Hans Christian Children’s Hospital since 2014. Professor Smith receives a visiting academic scholarship from the Odense University Hospital to support annual visits to Denmark.
Each visit to Denmark reminds me that our greatest achievements aren’t just publications or PhD completions - they’re the relationships, mentorship, and conversations that spark new ideas and lead to positive change.
I’m especially grateful to my outstanding team at the UQ Centre for Online Health, whose ongoing support, innovation and resilience make achievements like this possible. My sincere thanks to Professor Jane Clemensen for her exceptional leadership, friendship, and vision.
Further information about the 2025 Honorary Doctorates can be seen on SDU’s website.
