Faculty of Health
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
- School of Medicine and Public Health
- School of Health Sciences
2011 Faculty of Health Achievers
Dr Nikola Bowden
NH & MRC Training Post-Doctoral Fellow
Faculty of Health
The University of Newcastle, Australia
PhD - Medical Genetics 2006
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) 2001
Bachelor of Biomedical Science 2000
2011 RECIPIENT – YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
After completing her PhD in Medical Genetics in 2006, Nikola developed a research program with the aim of delivering improved and personalised diagnosis and treatment to cancer patients. Nikola’s research investigates DNA repair in children with inherited skin cancer syndromes and the previously unstudied area of the same DNA repair in melanomas from adults.
Her collaborations with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the University of California, the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health (USA) have assisted in her obtaining over $1.2 million in funding, publishing 4 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and presenting at 47 international and national conferences.
In 2006 Nikola was awarded an NBN Telethon Childhood Cancer post-doctoral fellowship. Nikola grew this position to form the Information Based Medicine Group under Professor Rodney Scott. Nikola was awarded the HMRI PULSE Education prize in 2006, the Hunter Children’s Research Foundation Research Excellence Award in 2007 and the Schizophrenia Research Institute Paper Award in 2008.
Associate Professor Pauline Chiarelli
Associate Professor and Program Convenor
Bachelor of Physiotherapy Program
Faculty of Health
The University of Newcastle, Australia
PhD - 2001
Masters of Medical Science (Health Promotion) 1997
Graduate Diploma Health Social Sciences (Health Promotion) 1993
2011 RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE
While conducting natural childbirth classes as part of her private physiotherapy practice in the 1980’s Pauline became aware of the need for open discussions about problems relating to women’s incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. A steady string of calls from colleagues seeking advice about incontinence issues led Pauline to form the Continence Foundation of Australia in 1980, and to undertake a PhD on the topic.
Pauline’s doctoral work resulted in the development of ongoing community-based programs to promote continence. The literature Pauline developed as part of her thesis is still given to 85% of new mothers by the Federal Government. Pauline coordinates twice-yearly workshops on continence at Newcastle University’s Callaghan campus, which attract both international and national participants.
As the leading authority on continence in Australia, Pauline’s recent work extends to male continence issues resulting from prostate cancer. Pauline has appeared in over 1,500 national and international broadcasts on the subject to raise awareness and address the challenges – she is making a difference in the lives
of the men and women in our communities.
Dr Sarah McEwan
District Medical Officer
Port Hedland Regional Hospital
Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Emergency Department
Acting Senior Medical Officer for relief staff
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Bachelor of Medicine 2004
2011 RECIPIENT – INDIGENOUS ALUMNI AWARD
2011 FINALIST – YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Sarah has contributed much to rural and remote medicine and has already received outstanding accolades. In 2009, Sarah was named the National Rural Faculty’s Rural Registrar of the Year by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and in 2010 was the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s Registrar of the year.
Her work as a teacher in the higher education sector and as a mentor in the John Flynn Scholarship Mentoring Program has done much to encourage medical students to consider a career path in rural health. Sarah’s interest and passion in indigenous health, rural and remote medicine and medical journalism has seen her publish extensively on the topic. Her desire to play her part in the promotion of medical journalism recently led to a guest appearance as a judge on ABC’s The New Inventor’s program.
Dr Anne Wakatama
Chief Medical Officer
Royal Flying Doctor Service
South Eastern Section
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Bachelor of Medicine 1983
2011 JOINT RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
Graduating with Honours as one of the first cohort of students at the Medical School of the University of Newcastle, Anne commenced her career working as an Intern and Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Newcastle Hospital.
After 15 years experience running a private practice as a GP, Anne became the first female Chief Medical Officer with the South Eastern Section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
At this time the Section was in a rapid phase of growth, moving from providing primarily acute care to a more comprehensive range of primary health care services.
In her role, Anne recognised a need to contribute to the training of medical and associated students on remote health care as a way to ensure the long-term viability of health services in remote areas. This led Anne to develop a primary health care vision for remote NSW, and to computerise patient records to undertake research not previously possible with paper based records.
Dr Kerrie Doyle
Associate Professor
Indigenous Health
University of Canberra
Canberra, Australia
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) 1999
Graduate Diploma in Health Science 1993
2011 FINALIST – INDIGENOUS ALUMNI AWARD
Despite commencing her education as a mature age student, Kerrie now holds an impressive number of qualifications. A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well-being; a Graduate Diploma of Applied Sciences; a Masters of Indigenous Health; and a Doctorate in Integrating Community into Local Health Services. Kerrie is currently enrolled in her second Doctorate on Social Inclusion in Aboriginal Communities at the University of Newcastle.
Kerrie’s early career saw her complete Certificates in General Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Renal Nursing, before she commenced a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the age of 33. Now an Endeavour Award Fellow researching identity issues in New Zealand, Kerrie is also an Associate Professor of Indigenous Health at the University of Canberra. Kerrie’s teaching has made a significant impact on ensuring the cultural proficiency of Australian health care practitioners and cemented her place as a role model for Aboriginal people.
Professor Jennelle Kyd
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Academic and Research
Central Queensland University, Australia
PhD - 1995
2011 FINALIST – CONVOCATION MEDAL FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Professor Kyd’s research has advanced our understanding of respiratory and middle ear bacterial infections, and of the immune responses critical to effective prevention.
Professor Kyd has developed commercially valuable intellectual property in the form of vaccine components, which will result in the provision of more effective treatments. Her work identified how the composition of bacterial colonisation is contributing to the susceptibility of middle ear infections in children. This is particularly relevant to the high incidence rate in Aboriginal children who are also heavily colonized by these pathogens as infants.
Professor Kyd’s strong leadership credentials, led her to set up a significant biomedical research facility at the Australian National University in 1995, and to establish the National Centre for Forensic Studies in 2003.
She is a leader in an international group that is working with the pharmaceutical industry and key international researchers to achieve a vaccine for the prevention of bacterial middle ear infections in children.
Professor Kyd’s strong links with community, government and industry partners and stakeholders have assisted her in the highly successful promotion of the research agenda at Central Queensland University.
Dr Dein Vindigni OAM
Chiropractor; Research Fellow
Founder Hands On Health Australia
Melbourne, Australia
PhD - 2005
Master of Medical Science (Health Promotion) 1998
Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion 1997
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARD FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Dein is a Melbourne chiropractor, research fellow, and founder of the not-for-profit organisation Hands On Health Australia (HOHA). Dein’s current academic interests centre largely on evaluating the community-based health programs seeded by HOHA. The impetus for founding HOHA was a chance meeting with Mother Teresa’s missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. Recognising that their common sense model could work elsewhere in the world, HOHA has proved it, by growing to encompass over 25 clinics and clinical training programs.
One area of Dein’s continuing academic interest is indigenous health and spirituality. A collaborative initiative between indigenous elders, academics and health practitioners has been responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating community based and owned indigenous health programs. In 2008 Dein was
awarded an OAM for his contribution to health and community service throughout Australia and the Asian-Pacific region.
2010 Faculty of Health Achievers
Dr Jaquelyne Hughes - PhD Student,
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
Bachelor of Medicine 2000
Faculty of Health / The Wollotuka Institute
Dr Hughes is the inaugural recipient of the Indigenous Alumni Award (2010).
In 2007, Dr Hughes was one of two indigenous doctors awarded the Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) for the first time.
Now undertaking PhD studies, titled “The relationship of obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes mellitus and renal impairment” she believes the preliminary findings of her research are of great clinical relevance to both clinicians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people needs a multi-dimensional approach. In addition to undertaking clinical research, Dr Hughes has also developed and mentored professional and clinical capacity among colleagues, study participants and the wider community.
Dr Andrew Hedges (FRANZCOG)
Medical Director Hunter IVF, Newcastle Australia
Bachelor of Medicine 1987
Faculty of Health
Dr Hedges is the recipient of the Alumni Award for Regional Leadership (2010).
Dr Hedges is a specialist in reproductive medicine, reproductive endocrinology, infertility and gynaecology. He has worked in IVF since 1990, becoming a founding Director of Hunter IVF in 2003 which has since performed over 500 stimulated cycles in 2009, and now employs over 14 staff in the region.
Dr Hedges has been fostering collaborative research into sperm DNA damage with the Aiken Centre at the University of Newcastle and believes that this association is directly beneficial to patients of Hunter IVF, changing the lives of many Hunter families.
He has been published both nationally and internationally in his field and has won many awards and prizes. He provides international consultancy in IVF and together with the Scientific Director of Monash IVF, has worked to establish IVF services in Sri Lanka.
Professor Julie Byles
Director of the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing and co- Director of the Newcastle Institute of Public Health.
Bachelor of Medicine, 1985; PhD - 1994
Faculty of Health
Professor Julie Byles was a finalist for the 2010 Convocation Medal for Professional Excellence.
Professor Byles is one of the Australian and international leaders in multi-disciplinary gerontology, making contributions in: cutting edge research in ageing, gender, and health; as the incoming President of the national Australian Association of Gerontology; advisor to the Commonwealth department of Health and Ageing; working with international organisations notably the World Health Organisation and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.
Her recent work has focused on health assessment, medications used by older people, sleep disturbance, health effects of alcohol for older women, nutrition screening and interventions, health and retirement, and prevention of falls in residential care. She is widely acknowledged as a leading international authority on longitudinal research on ageing women's health and for her expert leadership in establishing her own Centre
at Newcastle.
Her leadership includes public health policy and mentorship of the graduate students and junior staff who will be the leaders of her field in the future.
Dr Richard Sheldrake
(MScAgr PhD FASM FAICD)
Director-General
NSW Department of Industry and Investment, NSW, Australia
PhD – Immunology, 1986
Faculty of Health
Dr Sheldrake was a finalist in the 2010 Alumni Award for National Leadership.
Dr Sheldrake’s position as the Director-General is integral to driving investment and promoting economic development throughout NSW. It embraces the key industry sectors of mining, energy, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, and film and television, and is responsible for state and regional development, small business promotion, food safety, mine safety, mine subsidence and rural assistance.
Dr Sheldrake has played a role in developing and guiding State and National policy in areas such as; clean coal, carbon offsets, plant and animal bio-security, agricultural research and development, drought, native forest management, native vegetation, fisheries resource management, water use, and export market development.
Dr Sheldrake has held positions as Commissioner of the Murray Darling Basin Commission (2003-2009); NSW Commissioner for Soil Conservation (2005-2007); Director of the Pig Research and Development Corporation (1993-1996); Director of Animal Health Australia Ltd (2004-2005); Chair of the Primary Industries Health Committee (2004-2005); and Board Member of the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (2002-2006).
He has influenced policy, driven economic development at a national level and served on national advisory groups.