Tributes Pour in for “Guiding Light” of General Practice: Professor John Murtagh (1936–2025)
20 Oct 2025
A Legacy in Medical Education
- Best known for John Murtagh’s General Practice, first published in 1994, now in its ninth edition, translated into 13 languages, guiding doctors in over 20 countries.
- Renowned mentor and educator at Monash University, teaching generations of GPs, including several RACGP presidents.
- Named Australia’s “favourite medical hero” in a 2012 GP survey, with 60% of respondents selecting him.
Career Highlights
- Overcame poliomyelitis as a child, inspiring a lifelong dedication to patient care.
- Practiced rural medicine in Neerim South, Gippsland, with his wife Dr Jill Rosenblatt, developing his legendary ability to connect with patients.
- Held senior academic roles at Monash University, mentoring future leaders in general practice.
- Edited Australian Family Physician, shaping medical publishing and education.
A Global Impact
- His textbooks have influenced GPs worldwide, including a Mandarin edition launched in 2023 in front of 5,000 Chinese doctors.
- Recognized as a life fellow of the RACGP and WONCA in 2007.
- Named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2019.
- The RACGP’s John Murtagh Library bears his name in tribute to his lasting contributions.
Personal Reflections
- Colleagues recall his warmth, humility, and dedication to improving patient care.
- Professor Michael Kidd, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, described him as having a “profound influence” on his life and career.
- Even into his late 80s, he remained actively engaged, attending conferences and working on his final textbook weeks before his passing.
Family Tribute
His daughter Julie Tullberg said:
"We’re super proud of his legacy in medicine. Dad’s work has guided generations of doctors, and his textbooks have been translated into numerous languages. He was a trailblazer during his time at Monash University, and we are most fortunate to have learned from his humble ways. RIP Dad."
Professor Murtagh’s passing marks the end of an era in Australian general practice, but his enduring legacy lives on through the countless doctors he trained, the patients he cared for, and the work that continues to guide practitioners worldwide.
Source: RACGP, Monash University, and family tributes, 2025.
