Dr. Lachlan James de Crespigny graduated MBBS in 1972. In 1979 he obtained his qualifications in Obstetrics and Gynecology of both the MRCOG and MRACOG. He was awarded the gold medal for his performance at the MRACOG examination. He qualified for the Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound (DDU) in 1980 and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1982. Dr. de Crespigny is presently the Head of Ultrasound Department, Royal Women's Hospital and since 2001, Honorary Fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Unit. He is also partner at the private clinic, "Melbourne Ultrasound for Women".
After graduation Dr. de Crespigny was resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He spent the two years between 1973 and 74 in England, obtaining various experiences in Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Back in Melbourne, Australia, he became Registrar in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Royal Women's Hospital, the Felix Meyer Scholar at the University and lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. In 1988, de Crespigny was appointed Specialist in Ultrasound at the Royal Women's Hospital, and in 1997 was promoted to the post of Associate Professor at the department.
Dr. de Crespigny's MD research was on the diagnosis and early follow up of neonatal cerebroventricular haemorrhage using real-time ultrasound, and its sequelae such as ventricular dilation. His research reported the first accurate description of the anatomy of the lateral ventricles of the brain, findings that were confirmed by other workers eight years later in 1989. In addition, he published an accurate description of the cava of the brain and on the timing of cerebroventricular haemorrhages which until then was believed to occur well into the neonatal period. With Malcolm Levene, a paediatrician who published widely on IVH in England, they published a classification for cerebroventricular haemorrhage and ventricular dilation.
In 1980, with the Arthur Nyulasy Scholarship in Gynaecology, he conducted extensive and pioneering research on the assessment of human ovulation by ultrasound. In the development phase of follicular scanning his thesis described the process for follicular development and rupture and the details of the scanning technique involved. His team included Dr. Colm O'Herlihy and Dr. Hugh Robinson. Dr Robinson described the crown-rump length in 1973 and had immigrated from Scotland to Australia in the late 1970s. His ultrasound expertise had also contributed much to the development of ultrasonography in Australia, particularly in Melbourne. Dr. de Crespigny's other important work included interventional techniques in fetal medicine and gynaecology, intra-uterine transfusions, transvaginal ultrasonography, standards of practice, national logistics and medico-legal aspects in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasound.
Dr. de Crespigny was President of the Australian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) from 1992-94. He was chairman of the Victorian Branch of the ASUM between 1987-89, councilor of the ASUM from 1988-95, and Committee member of the Australian Association of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasonologists.
Dr. de Crespigny was the author and co-author of 3 books to date. One of them was the very interesting monograph: Choices: True Stories in Prenatal Diagnosis (Penguin 1998). He is often hailed as Australia's most prominent spokesperson on prenatal testing. Dr. de Crespigny is the author and co-author of over 10 book chapters and 70 peer-reviewed papers spanning many areas of sonography in prenatal diagnosis and assisted reproduction. Dr. de Crespigny was also on the Editorial Board of "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology" and member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) Supporting Committee, Saline Infusion Sonohysterography , and Nuchal Translucency Supporting Committee. He is also a member of the RANZOG Ultrasound Working Party. He has travelled widely and given numerous lectures on invitations world-wide. He has participated in the organization of many important congresses such as the recent ISUOG congress in Melbourne in 2001, where he was convenor and scientific convenor.