Neurologist, advocate and pioneer, Elizabeth retired from Westmead Hospital in early 2021 after more than 40 years championing the care of people with Huntington’s disease (HD).

Trained in USA in neurology, she returned to Australia in 1980s and joined the fledgling HD clinic at Lidcombe Hospital.

Back then no treatment existed for this fatal genetic condition. Prof McCusker recognised that more could be done and alongside many others fought to help these struggling families. 

In 1995 Prof McCusker made the move to Westmead Hospital. This clinic eventually went on to become one of the five largest HD clinics in the world.

She helped position Westmead Hospital as a key participant in crucial and ground-breaking international research.

She is Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and Secretary General for World Federation of Neurology Research Group in HD. 

She was actively involved in educating generations of doctors. 

Thousands have benefited from her expertise, kindness, and wisdom. 

She has done all of this with the greatest of humility, and compassion for families with HD.

Dr. Elizabeth McCusker was awarded OAM by the Governor-General in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List. for her service to medicine as a neurologist, particularly in the field of Huntington’s disease.