Ann Elizabeth Sefton

Ann Elizabeth Jervie Sefton AO (born 8 July 1936) is an Australian neurologist and educator. As a visual scientist, she developed descriptions of the connections between the eye and visual centres of the brain. She was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sydney in 2001 and served as Deputy Chancellor from 2004 to 2008.

Career and research From 1965 to 1973, Sefton worked as a lecturer in physiology at the University of Sydney, becoming an associate professor in 1985 and professor in 1992. with later work concentrating on the development of colour vision in mammals.

Sefton also contributed to medical education at the University of Sydney. She initiated the development of a new type of medical education program, moving away from memorisation and rote-learning, and instead integrating clinical reasoning, critical appraisal and problem solving. She served on the University of Sydney Senate from 2001 to 2009, becoming Pro-Chancellor in 2001 and serving as Deputy Chancellor from 2004 to 2008. She has also acted as a co-chair of the education committee of the International Union of Physiological Sciences.

Awards and recognition

1990 – Award for teaching excellence received from the University of Sydney 1991 – Honorary life member of the University of Sydney Medical Society 1992 – Honorary Life Member of the Australian Medical Students Association 1993 – Education Achievement Award received from the ANZ Association of Medical Education 1995 – Lions Club Award received for contributions to the Save Sight Foundation 1995 – Lions Club Award received from the NSW/ACT Public Health Care Foundation 1998 – Australian Award for University Teaching 2000 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)