Graduating in 1970 from the University of Western Australia and following his residency, Dr. Melvyn A Sydney-Smith (Mel) practised in Papua New Guinea, becoming the Acting Specialist in O&G at the Morobe District Base Hospital. On return to Australia, Mel commenced general practice, whilst embarking on a Graduate Training Program that included Acupuncture, Gestalt Therapy, Clinical Nutrition, NLP and Hypnosis. Mel completed his Master’s Degree in Human Movement Studies, followed by a PhD in 1992.

Mel was a founding partner and director of the Holistic Medical Centre in Brisbane, a specialist practice committed to providing an integrated medical service within a holistic medical paradigm. Today Mel remains committed to patient-centred assessment and holistic health care. His practice focuses on comprehensive medical nutritional assessment and the clinical application of contemporary research on diet and nutrient therapy, as an essential element of integrated patient management.

In addition to patient care, Mel is a respected Medical Educator, being extensively involved for thirty years in both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Nutrition Education in Australia, China and Asia. He was a Visiting Professor at the Open International University for Complementary Medicine and, in 1992, was inducted into the Knights of Malta (Asia) for his contribution to Graduate Medical Education in China and Asia.

Mel is an Adjunct Associate Professor (Nutrition Medicine) at Southern Cross University (NSW) and was Adjunct Professor (Nutrition Medicine) at RMIT University (Melbourne), where he authored, coordinated and taught the Master of Nutrition Medicine degree program. This Program was initially delivered as a collaborative venture with the University of New England and was later transferred to RMIT University, incorporated into their Master of Nutrition Medicine Program. Mel continues to write for and present at national and international medical seminars, whilst continuing in clinical practice in Aspley, Brisbane.