A medical career dedicated to the poor and needy

• Carolyn Webb
• June 9, 2008

ANDREW Dent, the director of St Vincent's Hospital's emergency department for 12 years, has endeavoured throughout his career to help the underprivileged.

During his University of Melbourne medical training in the early 1980s, he spent a month working at Mother Teresa's mission in Calcutta.

Dr Dent, who was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) today, worked in Africa after surgical training in Britain.

He was the only surgeon at the Shisong bush hospital in Cameroon, introducing modern treatments and raising money for equipment. He has also worked in Papua New Guinea.

Blandine Dent said her husband, who is seriously ill with colon cancer, was very pleased to receive his AM.

"He feels very honoured," she said.

The Age, Melbourne.