Person
Littlejohn, Jean (1899 - 1990)
CBE
- Born
- 3 April 1899
Nelson, New Zealand - Died
- 27 November 1990
East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Medical practitioner and Otolaryngologist
Summary
Jean Littlejohn was the first person to gain a Diploma in Laryngology and Otology from the University of Melbourne. Having qualified in medicine in 1922, she joined her two brothers in private practice. However, her association with the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital led her to specialise in diseases of the ear, nose and throat. She worked at the Hospital for over 50 years, becoming Clinical Dean and a Member of the Committee of Management. Littlejohn made significant contributions in paediatric ear, nose and throat medicine, developing new techniques for the removal of tonsils and adenoids. She established clinic for infant deafness at the Hospital and pioneered use of hearing aids for babies. In 1957 the Hospital established the Jean Littlejohn Deafness Investigation and Research Unit. Littlejohn was a founding member and President of the Otolaryngological Society of Australia. Two awards have been established in her name by the University of Melbourne. In 1978 the Department of Otolaryngology awarded the first biennial Jean Littlejohn research prize. The annual Littlejohn Medal, which recognises outstanding contributions to knowledge and research across heath and medical disciplines, was inaugurated in 2025 by the University.
Details
Littlejohn, in her medical studies, was a classmate of Kate Campbell, Meredith Bryce and Jean Macnamara.
Chronology
- 1904
- Life event - Migrated to Victoria with her family
- 1922
- Education - MB BS, University of Melbourne
- 1922
- Career position - Resident Medical Officer, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1923 - ?
- Career position - Medical Superintendent, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1924 -
- Career position - In private practice (with her two brothers), Collins St, Melbourne
- 1924 - 1929
- Career position - Honorary clinical assistant, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1929 - 1933
- Career position - Assistant Surgeon, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1933
- Education - Diploma in Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne
- 1933 - 1952
- Career position - Senior Surgeon, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1935 - 1990
- Education - Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- 1946 - 1959
- Career position - Member, Committee of Management, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1947 -
- Career position - Clinical Dean, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1947
- Career event - Elected to Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne
- 1948
- Career position - Founding President, Soroptimist International in Victoria
- 1950
- Career position - Foundation Member, Otolaryngological Society of Australia
- 1950 - 1952
- Career position - Chairman of honorary medical staff, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1952
- Career event - Appointed Life Governor and Honorary Consultant Surgeon, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1957 - 1961
- Career position - Otologist, Jean Littlejohn Deafness Investigation and Research Unit, Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1958 - 1959
- Career position - President, Otolaryngological Society of Australia
- 1961 - 1974
- Career position - Otologist, Jean Littlejohn Deafness Investigation and Research Unit, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- 1962
- Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- 1975
- Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1978
- Career event - Retired from medical practice
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Thomson, John R., 'Obituary: Jean Littlejohn OBE, CBE, MB BS, DLO, FRACS', Medical journal of Australia, 154 (12) (1991), 846, https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb121383.x. Details
Resource Sections
- Due, Stephen, 'Littlejohn, Jean (1899 - 1990), medical practitioner', in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 18: 1981 - 1990 L-Z, Nolan, Melanie, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 2012. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/littlejohn-jean-14294. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 18 November 2025