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John Murtagh from Murrumbeena Victoria
Emeritus Professor John Murtagh AO, one of Australia's most respected general practitioners and medical educators, has passed away peacefully aged 89. Known for his humble leadership and enduring impact on generations of doctors, Professor Murtagh's life's work transformed the way general practice is taught and understood today.
Best known as the author of the seminal John Murtagh's General Practice - first published in 1994 - his 1535-page guidebook became the cornerstone of medical education across Australia and around the world. The text has guided students and professionals alike, shaping the understanding and approach to patient care in more than 20 countries and translated into numerous languages.
His daughter, journalist Julie Tullberg, paid a heartfelt tribute to her father on LinkedIn, describing him as a "trailblazer" who inspired through compassion and quiet wisdom. "I'm saddened to share that my father, Professor John Murtagh, passed away peacefully today, surrounded by our family," she wrote. "Although he lived a long and full life, it comes as a shock when it's your Dad's time. We're super proud of his legacy in medicine. Dad's work has guided generations of doctors - across more than 20 countries - and his textbooks have been translated into numerous languages. He finished his final textbook just weeks ago."
Professor John Murtagh AO has died aged 89. Picture: Supplied
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described Professor Murtagh as a man with a rare ability to "explain both complex concepts and practical procedures in an approachable and engaging way." He added, "Professor Murtagh leaves a lasting legacy of transforming general practice and family medicine in Australia, and across the world."
In 2007, Professor Murtagh was awarded Life Fellowship of both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the World Organization of Family Doctors, acknowledging his immense contributions to the discipline. In 2019, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to medicine and medical education - a fitting honour for a life defined by dedication, intellect, and service to others.
His passion for medicine began early. At just eight years old, he contracted polio and spent months recovering - an experience that sparked his lifelong desire to heal and help others. This empathy would later define his approach to practice and teaching alike.
Professor Murtagh spent many years as a rural GP in Neerim South, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Ranges, where he and his wife Jill worked as the only doctors in their small community. The pair relished their time there, often describing it as one of the most fulfilling chapters of their lives - a true reflection of his commitment to hands-on, community-based care.
Beyond the textbooks and accolades, Professor Murtagh's legacy lives on through the thousands of medical professionals he inspired - men and women who continue to apply his lessons of humility, clarity, and care every day in clinics and hospitals across the world.
He leaves behind not just a collection of influential medical texts, but a living philosophy of practice - that great medicine begins not with knowledge alone, but with kindness, patience, and the will to serve.
