Journey to Achievements Narration: Seminar with Dr Henry Zhao

08 Sep 2026
03:15pm - 05:00pm
FREE
Kaleide Theatre, Building 8, 360 Swanston St Melbourne

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of conversation with Dr Henry Zhao, lead Neurologist in Australia's First Mobile Stroke Unit. Dr Zhao will share his personal and professional journey, from his arrival in Australia from China when he was seven years old, to being a leading neurologist and researcher in the improvement of stroke prevention and treatment.

Dr Zhao is the lead neurologist for Australia’s first Mobile Stroke Unit ambulance program which has saved countless lives through faster emergency response by bringing the hospital to the patient’s doorstep. He completed both his medical degree with honours and PhD through The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Centre where he continues his work as a clinician-researcher. He will share his journey of entering medicine as a junior doctor before embarking on his journey into stroke research.

Event program

3.15pm - 3.45pm - Registration open

3.45pm - 5.00pm - Seminar

About Dr Zhao

Dr Henry Zhao is the lead neurologist in Australia’s first and only stroke treatment ambulance program, which has treated thousands of patients suffering stroke since it was commissioned in 2017. He co-pioneered this service along with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Ambulance Victoria to deal with a significant gap for stroke sufferers, since every crucial minute makes a difference to a person's recovery. He has also worked extensively with paramedics to change clinical evaluation of severe stroke patients that require specialised treatments.

Dr Zhao describes his work on the stroke ambulance as a unique environment which takes neurologists out of the hospital and into the world of the paramedics with different sorts of challenges. "You gain an appreciation of how difficult it is for paramedics to operate in some of these settings, when the patient is stuck upstairs, or even at a mining site," he says.

Dr Zhao is a Chinese-Australian born in Kunming, China, who emigrated to Australia after a period of being separated from his parents. He grew up in Adelaide before moving to Melbourne for university studies. He has two young children who take Chinese lessons and want to go to China to learn about their Chinese heritage. In the rare moments he is free, he enjoys occasional astrophotography.

Hosted by RMIT University in conjunction with the Museum of Chinese Australian History.

Australian Government, National foundation for Australia-China relations logos

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Journey to Achievements Narration: Seminar with Dr Henry Zhao