A/Prof Patrick Mahar is a specialist dermatologist, who holds degrees in medicine, business and law. He is a fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, the Australasian College of Legal Medicine and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and a Master of Business Administration the Melbourne Business School. He is a non-practising lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

As well as private practice, Dr Mahar holds clinical appointments at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and the Skin Health Institute Inc, the latter of which he is the current Medical Director. He clinically specialises in adult and paediatric dermatology. His interests include biologic and immunosuppressive treatment of severe inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, severe cutaneous drug reactions, skin cancer treatment and contact dermatitis.

A/Prof Mahar is an active researcher, currently involved in multiple randomised clinical trials. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature around clinical and medicolegal topics. A/Prof Mahar is a lecturer for the University of Melbourne and Deakin University, having completed research doctorates at both institutions. He holds both a Doctor of Philosophy evaluating clinical outcomes in burn and burn-related dermatological conditions, as well as a Doctor of Medical Science evaluating professional standards in the medical profession in Victoria, with a particular focus on medical negligence.

In 2014, he was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia, in part due to his contributions to patient safety.

A/Prof Mahar has experience as an expert witness and is qualified to undertake impairment assessments and has consulted on medical negligence claims for insurers as well as coronial inquests.