Former Durbanite Dr Ron Jithoo has been recognised with one of Australia's highest civilian honours, reports The Witness.
Jithoo was recently awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List. Formerly of Reservoir Hills, Durban and now based in Melbourne, he received the honour in recognition of more than two decades of service in neurosurgery and public health.
“I see the recognition not as an individual achievement, but as a reflection of the teams with whom I have worked, the patients who entrusted me with their care, and the opportunities provided by Australia’s public health system,” he said.
Career in neurosurgery
Jithoo has practised neurosurgery for more than 25 years in tertiary public hospitals and private practice, specialising in complex cranial surgery and neurotrauma.
“Neurosurgery demands precision, accountability, and clarity under pressure,” he said, adding that he was drawn to the speciality because it combines deep anatomical knowledge with decisive action at moments that profoundly alter patients’ lives.
He described severe neurotrauma cases as particularly impactful, noting that they require both technical skill and strong teamwork.
Strong academic roots
Jithoo comes from a family with a long academic and medical history. His late father, Dr Jaychand Jithoo, was a medical intern at the University of Natal in 1968.
Jithoo completed postgraduate surgical and neurosurgical training in Durban and Melbourne before emigrating to Australia in 2002.
His late mother, Professor Sabita Goordeen, obtained her Master’s degree in Anthropology in 1965, and his sister, Dr Anamika Jithoo, earned her MBChB in 1997.
He is currently a consultant neurosurgeon at The Alfred Hospital, a major tertiary referral and trauma centre in Australia. He also works in private practice, provides services at Royal Darwin Hospital in remote Australia, and supports surgical outreach and teaching programmes in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Jithoo credited UKZN with shaping his clinical judgment and resilience.
“The intensity of training, strong peer relationships, and breadth of pathology developed my clinical judgment and resilience – foundations that have endured throughout my career. UKZN and South Africa remain integral to my professional identity,” he said.
Jithoo said he remains focused on mentoring, education and strengthening health systems, particularly in neurotrauma and remote service delivery.
The Witness article – Durban-born neurosurgeon receives prestigious Australian honour (Open access)
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