Recently the Board of Emerge Australia unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Richard Schloeffel OAM to the position of Medical Director. This is a significant appointment that will result in Dr. Schloeffel having oversight of direction regarding clinical programs and our work on ME/CFS Clinical Guidelines among other areas. Dr. Schloeffel will provide a link between patients, Emerge Australia and the wider medical fraternity. In his role as Medical Director, he will also advise the Board on clinical and scientific evidence to underpin program development of Emerge Australia. Dr. Schloeffel will also support the CEO in advocacy and awareness raising activities, both in media and with governments, as well as corporate partners to improve outcomes for those living with ME/CFS and long COVID.
For the past 24 years Dr. Schloeffel has focused his practice in the understanding and management of Complex and Chronic Disorders. Dr Schloeffel graduated from the University of NSW in 1978. His initial training was in Intensive Care Medicine, followed by Isolated Rural General Practice combining Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine.
He gained a Fellowship in the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in 1983, a Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from China’s Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1986 and a Fellowship of the Australian Medical Acupuncture College in 1987.
Dr Schloeffel worked extensively in rural General Practice, and in the developing world, as well as in Europe for 13 years before moving back to Sydney where he currently practices.
Dr Schloeffel was influenced by the HIV/Aids epidemic of the 1980’s and then myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia in the 1990’s. He then became increasingly involved in developing diagnostic and management pathways for these misunderstood diseases.
Emerge Australia warmly welcomes Richard.
