Professor David Theile AO is a distinguished medical clinician, hospital administrator, and dual Olympic gold medallist.
A talented swimmer from an early age, he won gold in the 100m backstroke at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he set both a World and Olympic Record, and again at the 1960 Rome Olympics where he set another Olympic Record and also took home silver with the Australian 4 x 100 metre relay team.
Professor Theile studied medicine at UQ, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery in 1962. He completed post-graduate training in surgery in Brisbane and then worked in the UK, before earning his Master of Surgery from UQ in 1970.
Much of his career has been spent in clinical practice working in surgical roles at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He was appointed clinical CEO of the hospital in 2006, and then district CEO of the Metro South Health Service District in 2008. In 2012 he became chairman of Diamantina Health Partners.
Professor Thiele is a fellow and former president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968, and made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1997. In 2001, UQ awarded him with a Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa.
