Mr Stelios Michas

Mr Michas began work in the Dissecting Room on a casual basis towards the end of 1993 to initially assist the HEO5T in the general maintenance of the area including the Dissecting Room, Prosectory, Mortuary/Embalming area, Cadaver Store and Neuro store and to assist in the receipt and embalming of cadavers, due to his previous experience in the Funeral Industry.

By mid 1994 Mr Michas' position had been upgraded to permanent casual because of the increased demand of Technical staff time being devoted to undergraduate practical class set ups, due to the change from dissection based to prosection based teaching. This in turn led to Mr Michas taking more responsibility for routine maintenance of the area and the receipt and embalming of cadavers to free up the HEO5T to select and set up suitable specimens for prosection based undergraduate and postgraduate classes. In the HEO5T's absence Mr Michas would also assist academic staff in the set-up of practical classes, workshops, tutorials and examinations.

As there was a proven need for a full-time assistant to the HEO5T, Mr Michas has been employed on an annual full-time contract since February 1996. This has enabled him to take on more responsibilities under the supervision of the HEO5T such as the maintenance of the cadaver register, museum specimens including a museum catalogue and the chemical stores.

With the introduction of Comparative Morphology and Functional and Comparative Anatomy and the related links with the Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo, the Technical staff now must receive, embalm and store all animals donated to the Department and Mr Michas has taken an interest in and assisted with the dissection of said animals.

Mr Michas is also keen to assist the HEO5T in the development of the Plastination Laboratory and to further his technical skills in all areas relating to the development of the services offered by the Dissecting Room and SOMA Medical & Scientific Anatomy Services.