Dr Clayton Thomas

Consultant in Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation

After graduating from Medicine at Monash University in 1983, Dr Clayton Thomas developed a special interest in the area of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine.

Professor Hugh Barry, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Melbourne, asked Dr Thomas to establish a Rehabilitation Pain Service for the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Essendon campus, developing new pain programs and researching patient outcomes.

During his time with the RMH, in 1993 Dr Thomas was awarded a Churchill Fellowship by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, in order to develop a predictive model for back injury to promote high quality rehabilitation with a durable outcome (USA, UK).

Given the success of the service and following Professor Barry’s retirement, Dr Thomas held the position of Acting Director of the Rehabilitation Unit, Professorial Unit at the University of Melbourne, for over three years. During his tenure Dr Thomas developed a comprehensive pain clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which remains a leading pain service within Victoria.

In 1996, Dr Thomas established a pain service at Dorset Rehabilitation Centre, to service the northwest region of Melbourne. In 1997, he was appointed Director of Medical Services at the newly privatised Victorian Rehabilitation Centre (previously the TAC Rehabilitation Centre) in Glen Waverley, and established a Pain Unit, to cater for the large group of chronic pain patients following motor-vehicle trauma.

In 1999, Dr Thomas completed his Masters in Public Health at Monash University, his thesis was on ‘The Measurement of Outcome after Major Orthopaedic Trauma’.

In 2001, Dr Thomas was granted Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMANZCA) Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. This was through a Grandfather Clause, in recognition of his expertise and contribution in the area of pain medicine.

Qualifications

• MBBS.
• FAFRM.
• FFPMANZCA.
• MPH.

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine ANZCA.
• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
• Member of Australian Medical Association.

Positions

• Medical Director for The Victorian Rehabilitation Centre and for Dorset Rehabilitation Centre.
• Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee for the above two centers plus at the North Eastern Rehabilitation Centre.
• Additional Professional Activities and Contributions.
• Committee member for the Victorian Branch of the Faculty of Pain Medicine.
• Committee member for the Faculty of Pain Medicine Examination Committee.

Publications

• S.A. Esdale, R.M. Greenwood, A. Nolan, C.H. Thomas.
  “Does Health Hardiness Influence Rehabilitation Outcomes?”
  Diploma for World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 11th International Congress.
• Prepared a module of Family Medicine Course by correspondence.
  Monash University, Melbourne (printed 1993).
• H.A. Flavell, G.P. Carraf, C.H. Thomas, P.B. Disler. (MJA 1996;165:253).
  “Managing Chronic Back Pain: Impact of an Interdisciplinary Team Approach”.
• C.H. Thomas & D. MacAdams.
  “Back Pain Rehabilitation.”
  Australian Family Physician, Vol 33, No. 6. June 2004.