Laboratory Manager, Microbiology, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology

Rodney McDougall was educated at St. Patricks Christian Brothers College Mackay. In 1980 after graduating high school he moved to Brisbane to study laboratory science at the Queensland University of Technology. Post-graduation he took on a laboratory position at the Australian Department of Health Pathology Townsville firstly as a multidiscipline technician and exhibiting his passion for microbiology moved into the microbiology department.

In 1982 he gained a position at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) Toowoomba taking on the position of “Scientist-in-Charge of the Microbiology Laboratory”. In 1991 he transferred to the main SNP Laboratory in Brisbane taking on the role of scientist in the Microbiology Department to broaden his microbiology horizons. He also took on the role of “Second-in- charge” of Biotech Laboratories a food, water and environmental laboratory at SNP Brisbane. In 1999 he gained the role of Laboratory Supervisor of the Microbiology Department and later in 2012 after attaining a Master’s Degree in Clinical Microbiology in 2010, the role of Laboratory Manager of SNP microbiology.

During his microbiology career he has been actively involved in the field of microbiology. He has a thorough knowledge of all areas of clinical, environmental and food Microbiology and has been instrumental in the adaptation and introduction of new technologies in the microbiology laboratory.

He has published widely, both as a collaborator and chief investigator, in Australian and International Journals and many findings have been incorporated into microbiology text books. Particular areas of interest and publications include parasitology, bacteriology, mycology and laboratory automation. He has also worked alone and with other researches on identification and isolation of novel and fastidious organisms examples include Bartonella hensalae, Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis.

He has been presented at numerous ASM and AIMS conferences including organising workshops on a wide variety of microbiology topics.

During his career he has been actively involved in research and development and has developed, validated and introduced many new lab methods and techniques which are still currently used in many microbiology laboratories in Australia and overseas.

Due to his dedication and knowledge in the field he has gained the confidence, recognition and respect of his peers and employer. His knowledge of clinical diagnostic microbiology is both broad and detailed and he has gained and demonstrated a thorough knowledge of clinic-pathological correlation