This directory allows you to identify others working within implementation science across our community of practice in NSW, including clinicians, researchers, service and program delivery staff, directors of cancer care and others working to translate evidence into practice within cancer care. We encourage you to submit your profile to be listed here so we can create a network of those who might be useful and potential colleagues and collaborators. Listing are in alphabetical order of the surname.
Professor Fran Boyle
Medical oncologist at North Sydney’s Mater Hospital, Director of the Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research, and Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Sydney.
Fran Boyle is a medical oncologist at Sydney’s Mater Hospital working with multidisciplinary teams in breast cancer and melanoma. For 20 years she has been involved in communication research and teaching through the Pam McLean Centre at the University of Sydney. A focus of this work has been improving communication between team members, as well as with patients and families.
Professor Boyle's clinical practice at the Poche Centre focuses on breast cancer and melanoma. Her current research interests include clinical trials of new cancer treatments, psychosocial and supportive care, and communication. Fran Chairs the Board of Directors of the ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group, and is a founding Director of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. She was honoured with Membership of the Order of Australia in 2008 for services to cancer research, advocacy, policy development and professional education.
Professor Boyle's clinical practice at the Poche Centre focuses on breast cancer and melanoma. Her current research interests include clinical trials of new cancer treatments, psychosocial and supportive care, and communication. Fran Chairs the Board of Directors of the ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group, and is a founding Director of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. She was honoured with Membership of the Order of Australia in 2008 for services to cancer research, advocacy, policy development and professional education.
Professor Jeffery Braithwaite
Foundation Director of the Australian Institute for Health Innovation and Director of the Centre for Clinical Governance.
Leading health services and systems researcher, Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite is a prominent Australian figure in the field of Implementation Science. Jeffrey, who is the Foundation Director of the Australian Institute for Health Innovation and Director of the Centre for Clinical Governance, both originally at UNSW Australia, is widely recognised for bringing management and leadership concepts into the clinical arena. Jeffrey is one of the Translational Cancer Research Network’s (TCRN) representatives in the CINSW TCRC Implementation Research Group and serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Implementation Science.
Jeffrey’s research interests are many and varied, broadly encompassing patient safety, quality of care, health systems, clinical governance, health services management, health services research, health policy and population health. His research about organisational, social and team approaches to care has raised the importance of these both in Australia and internationally.
In addition to his research, Jeffrey has also demonstrated his excellence in education, with high-level teaching experience both at home and abroad, supervising many successful PhD candidates and teaching coursework to Masters students. He has been awarded multiple teaching awards including the 2004 UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and again in 2013 from the Vice-Chancellor, this time for research student supervision.
Jeffrey’s research interests are many and varied, broadly encompassing patient safety, quality of care, health systems, clinical governance, health services management, health services research, health policy and population health. His research about organisational, social and team approaches to care has raised the importance of these both in Australia and internationally.
In addition to his research, Jeffrey has also demonstrated his excellence in education, with high-level teaching experience both at home and abroad, supervising many successful PhD candidates and teaching coursework to Masters students. He has been awarded multiple teaching awards including the 2004 UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and again in 2013 from the Vice-Chancellor, this time for research student supervision.
Dr Jamie Bryant
Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour at the University of Newcastle.
Dr Jamie Bryant is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour at the University of Newcastle. She is also affiliated with the Hunter Medical Research Institute and is a member of the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance. Jamie has a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a PhD in Behavioural Science in Relation to Medicine.
Jamie’s primary area of interest and expertise is in developing and implementing smoking cessation interventions that target vulnerable and high smoking prevalence groups. However in the last three years she sought opportunities to work with a diverse range of population groups on a wide variety of health issues. This has included projects conducted with individuals of low socioeconomic status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, cancer patients, stroke patients, and pregnant women. She has conducted worked with community and social service organisations, Aboriginal Medical Services, and in oncology, cardiology, neurology and obstetric outpatient clinics.
Over the last three years, Jamie has project-managed a NSW-wide trial funded by a Cancer Institute Evidence to Practice grant which aims to improve psychosocial outcomes for haematological cancer patients. In 2013, Jamie was one of only 40 applicants from 270 worldwide accepted to attend the Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health in the USA.
Jamie’s primary area of interest and expertise is in developing and implementing smoking cessation interventions that target vulnerable and high smoking prevalence groups. However in the last three years she sought opportunities to work with a diverse range of population groups on a wide variety of health issues. This has included projects conducted with individuals of low socioeconomic status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, cancer patients, stroke patients, and pregnant women. She has conducted worked with community and social service organisations, Aboriginal Medical Services, and in oncology, cardiology, neurology and obstetric outpatient clinics.
Over the last three years, Jamie has project-managed a NSW-wide trial funded by a Cancer Institute Evidence to Practice grant which aims to improve psychosocial outcomes for haematological cancer patients. In 2013, Jamie was one of only 40 applicants from 270 worldwide accepted to attend the Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health in the USA.
Dr Ann Dadich
Senior Lecturer, School of Business, University of Western Sydney PhD, BSocSci Psych (Hons), MAPS, NSW JP.
Dr Ann Dadich is a member of the Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT). She is also a Senior Lecturer within the University of Western Sydney, School of Business, a registered psychologist, and a full member of the Australian Psychological Society. Following undergraduate training, Ann entered the government and third sectors to work with different populations within the community. These include children and young people, people with mental health and/or substance use issues, family members and carers, as well as prisoners. These experiences continue to inform her approach to conducting research that is both empirical and respectful. Ann is a Senior Editor of the Australasian Medical Journal, an Editorial Board Member of the Austin Journal of Nursing & Health Care, and until recently, she was a member of the International Editorial Board of Youth Studies Australia. She also reviews manuscripts for several international and national academic journals. In addition to academic research, Ann supports the academic training of university students. She currently supervises doctoral students and teaches undergraduate units in management, particularly in the context of change and innovation.
Since entering academe, Ann has accumulated considerable research experience in health services management, with a particular focus on knowledge translation. This is demonstrated by her publishing record, which includes over 100 refereed journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Further confirmation of the quality of her scholarship is found in the awards she has received – most recently, these include the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Best Paper Award in the Conference Stream, Health Management, Public Sector & Not-for-Profit, as well as the Australian College of Health Services Management Best Paper Award in the ANZAM Conference Stream, Health Management, Public Sector & Not-for-Profit.
To better understand the complexity of knowledge translation, Ann led a state-wide impact and process evaluation of clinical resources to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare within the primary care sector. Findings from this and other studies that she has conducted incited her to develop a novel methodology to engage practitioners in participative research – namely, citizen social science. Ann plans to examine how this approach might enhance current understandings of knowledge translation.
To better understand the complexity of knowledge translation, Ann led a state-wide impact and process evaluation of clinical resources to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare within the primary care sector. Findings from this and other studies that she has conducted incited her to develop a novel methodology to engage practitioners in participative research – namely, citizen social science. Ann plans to examine how this approach might enhance current understandings of knowledge translation.
Professor Anna deFazio
Sydney West Chair in Translational Cancer Research; Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Westmead Clinical School
Anna deFazio is the Sydney-West Chair in Translational Cancer Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital. She is the co-Deputy Director of the Sydney-West Translational Cancer Research Centre and heads the Gynaecological Oncology Research Group in the Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Prof deFazio has a long-standing commitment to translational research with an emphasis on improving treatment outcome for women with ovarian cancer. The focus of her research is on understanding the clinico-genomic parameters that underlie response and resistance to chemotherapy.
She completed her PhD at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney, undertook postdoctoral studies at the Garvan Institute and established a program of ovarian cancer research at Westmead in 1995. Anna is on the Executive of the Sydney-West Translational Cancer Research Centre and is an investigator on a number of national and international collaborative consortia including the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS), the Australasian Biospecimen Network (ABN-Oncology), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC) and the NSW PRIMe (Pharmacogenomics Research for Individualised Medicine) consortium.
She completed her PhD at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney, undertook postdoctoral studies at the Garvan Institute and established a program of ovarian cancer research at Westmead in 1995. Anna is on the Executive of the Sydney-West Translational Cancer Research Centre and is an investigator on a number of national and international collaborative consortia including the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS), the Australasian Biospecimen Network (ABN-Oncology), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC) and the NSW PRIMe (Pharmacogenomics Research for Individualised Medicine) consortium.
Professor Geoff Delaney
Director of Cancer Services for Sydney South West Area Health Service, and staff specialist in Radiation Oncology at Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals.
Professor Delaney's main clinical interest is breast cancer. He has research interests in health services-based research, minimising radiation error, the implementation of multidisciplinary care and health service delivery inequities in radiation therapy.
He has published research in the international literature (over 170 peer-reviewed papers, reports and book chapters), and presented scientific papers and posters at national and international meetings. He has had significant involvement in policy decision making and planning of services through a number of committee responsibilities including committees for the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, NSW Cancer Institute, NSW Department of Health, Federal Government Dept of Health and Ageing, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and the NSW Cancer Council.
He has published research in the international literature (over 170 peer-reviewed papers, reports and book chapters), and presented scientific papers and posters at national and international meetings. He has had significant involvement in policy decision making and planning of services through a number of committee responsibilities including committees for the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, NSW Cancer Institute, NSW Department of Health, Federal Government Dept of Health and Ageing, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and the NSW Cancer Council.
Kelly Elsner
Senior Radiation Therapist and a Master of Philosophy (Research) student at the University of Sydney’s School of Medicine.
Kelly has worked as a Radiation Therapist and Proton Dosimetrist in Canada, the USA, and England. She has published two original research papers on student simulations in radiotherapy, and reproducibility of pelvic radiotherapy. A third manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the Journal of Medical Radiation Science. Kelly is continually inspired by people affected by cancer and their insight into the health system. Kelly also loves mangoes and gardening!
Kelly won the Best Presentation scholarship prize at our Implementation Science Rapid fire presentation round at the recent Cancer Institute NSW Innovations Conference!
Read her winning abstract "Piloting an international survey investigating Radiation Therapists’ knowledge and management of patients with anxiety" here
Kelly won the Best Presentation scholarship prize at our Implementation Science Rapid fire presentation round at the recent Cancer Institute NSW Innovations Conference!
Read her winning abstract "Piloting an international survey investigating Radiation Therapists’ knowledge and management of patients with anxiety" here
Associate Professor Alexander Engel
PhD MD FRACS EBSQColoproct, Specialist colorectal surgeon, Staff specialist at the Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital
Associate Professor Alexander Engel is a specialist colorectal surgeon and is currently a staff specialist at the Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital and holds a teaching position at the University of Sydney. A/Prof Engel is the Director, Sydney Vital Translational Cancer Research Centre which is funded by the Cancer Institute NSW and the University of Sydney.
Sydney Vital aims to support new programs, new pathways for engaging and involving researchers and clinicians, new mechanisms for facilitating knowledge-exchange and collaboration, and new initiatives to increase engagement with GPs and patients.
A/Prof Engel’s close association with the Journal Colorectal Disease culminated in being appointed editor from 2011 onwards. He has co-organised over 10 scientific conferences, has co-edited a recent book on diverticulits, contributed chapters to books, and have co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers. His current h-index is 29 with over 3300 citations of his publications (ISI Web of Knowledge). He has given key-note lectures on international conferences (UEGW, ESCP), has given numerous invited lectures and his team has presented research at many European conferences. In the past 5 years he has been CI on grants totaling more than $10,000,000.
Sydney Vital aims to support new programs, new pathways for engaging and involving researchers and clinicians, new mechanisms for facilitating knowledge-exchange and collaboration, and new initiatives to increase engagement with GPs and patients.
A/Prof Engel’s close association with the Journal Colorectal Disease culminated in being appointed editor from 2011 onwards. He has co-organised over 10 scientific conferences, has co-edited a recent book on diverticulits, contributed chapters to books, and have co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers. His current h-index is 29 with over 3300 citations of his publications (ISI Web of Knowledge). He has given key-note lectures on international conferences (UEGW, ESCP), has given numerous invited lectures and his team has presented research at many European conferences. In the past 5 years he has been CI on grants totaling more than $10,000,000.
Dr Lynleigh Evans
Senior Medical Advisor in Western Sydney Local Health District
Dr Lynleigh Evans has diverse experience in policy development, strategic planning, program implementation, and clinical practice improvement in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors both in Australia and overseas. She is currently Senior Medical Advisor in Western Sydney Local Health District where she has worked since 2012. Previous roles include CEO, the Skin and Cancer Foundation; Executive Director, St George Hospital and Executive General Manager, MBF (now BUPA). She has also worked extensively in the development sector including as Director of a comprehensive health sector reform program in Tonga (5 years), and as Emerging Infectious Diseases Advisor in Indonesia (3 years). Lynleigh’s experience is supported by a Medical degree, a PhD (Physiology) and an MBA all from the University of Sydney.
Professor Afaf Girgis
Director of the Psycho-oncology Research Group at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research & UNSW
Afaf has worked for more than 25 years as a Behavioural Scientist in cancer control and psycho-oncology. Her national and international standing in behavioural science and psycho-oncology was acknowledged in 2012 with the award of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Inaugural Psycho-oncology Award.
Afaf has a strong commitment to translating research into clinical practice; and a demonstrated track record of effective engagement with service providers, end-users of research and the community, to ensure the relevance and acceptability of interventions aimed at improving cancer care and outcomes.
Afaf has more than 260+ publications, over 6000 citations of her research and more than $42.8 Million in collaborative research funding; and has conducted complex multi-centre randomised controlled trials of psycho-oncology interventions.
Afaf has a strong commitment to translating research into clinical practice; and a demonstrated track record of effective engagement with service providers, end-users of research and the community, to ensure the relevance and acceptability of interventions aimed at improving cancer care and outcomes.
Afaf has more than 260+ publications, over 6000 citations of her research and more than $42.8 Million in collaborative research funding; and has conducted complex multi-centre randomised controlled trials of psycho-oncology interventions.
David Goldstein
Conjoint clinical professor at the UNSW Pirnce of Wales Clinical school, and Director of the UNSW Cancer Institute NSW Translational Cancer Research Centre – the Translational Cancer Research Network [TCRN]
Professor Goldstein has been involved in a variety of clinical research projects ranging from laboratory basic science to novel therapeutics trials to psychosocial aspects of Cancer care. He has been PI of a number of NHMRC and Cancer Australia funded therapeutic trials including both investigator initiated and as Australian PI for multinational studies. He has also been involved with psychosocial and cross cultural/CALD research for many years. His clinical interests are treatment of GI malignancies including pancreas cancer, colorectal cancer, anal carcinoma, hepatobilary and upper GI malignancy and renal cell carcinoma and lymphoma.
He is the adult program leader of the UNSW Cancer Survivors Centre and is involved with a research program associated with survivorship issues. As part of this activity, he is the Chief Investigator of a Cancer Institute NSW translational program grant of $3,100,000 to study the impact of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.
He also actively participates in three laboratory research programs dealing with stromal biology, pancreas drug resistance and modeling optimal targeted therapies in sarcoma
Prof Goldstein is a Past President of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and was a long serving board member of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group over 11 years and was treasurer for most of that time. He is currently the project leader for the ASCO/HVO cancer program in Hue Vietnam, as well as being a member of the supervisory committee of all HVO cancer projects.
He is the adult program leader of the UNSW Cancer Survivors Centre and is involved with a research program associated with survivorship issues. As part of this activity, he is the Chief Investigator of a Cancer Institute NSW translational program grant of $3,100,000 to study the impact of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.
He also actively participates in three laboratory research programs dealing with stromal biology, pancreas drug resistance and modeling optimal targeted therapies in sarcoma
Prof Goldstein is a Past President of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and was a long serving board member of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group over 11 years and was treasurer for most of that time. He is currently the project leader for the ASCO/HVO cancer program in Hue Vietnam, as well as being a member of the supervisory committee of all HVO cancer projects.
Jacqueline Hampton
Quality Development Manager for the Nepean Blue Mountains LHD and Accredited Clinical Dietitian
Jacquie is a Quality Development Manager, a subject matter expert responsible for providing specialised advice for the design monitoring, analysis and implementation of District wide quality improvement and strategic change management programs and projects that improve the level of patient care across NBMLHD.
She has gained a Diploma in Project Management through the Centre for Healthcare Redesign. Jacquie is also an Accredited Clinical Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics with 16 years of clinical health experience (10 yrs + as a Senior Oncology Dietitian) and exposed too many operational environments, situations and challenges.
A passion for quality development in accordance with the vision and values of NSW Health, Jacquie provides supervision, coaching and mentoring to dietitians and fellow staff, whether formal or informal. Recognising different personality and learning styles is important and she strives to adapt her communication approach accordingly. She strongly advocates for case reviews and discussions to support self-reflection, learning and improved practice. She keeps a positive outlook, have a passion for patient centred care and appreciate critical thinking to foster innovation.
She has gained a Diploma in Project Management through the Centre for Healthcare Redesign. Jacquie is also an Accredited Clinical Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics with 16 years of clinical health experience (10 yrs + as a Senior Oncology Dietitian) and exposed too many operational environments, situations and challenges.
A passion for quality development in accordance with the vision and values of NSW Health, Jacquie provides supervision, coaching and mentoring to dietitians and fellow staff, whether formal or informal. Recognising different personality and learning styles is important and she strives to adapt her communication approach accordingly. She strongly advocates for case reviews and discussions to support self-reflection, learning and improved practice. She keeps a positive outlook, have a passion for patient centred care and appreciate critical thinking to foster innovation.
Assistant Professor Danny Hills
Danny is an Assistant Professor in Nursing in the Faculty of Health at the University of Canberra and an Honorary Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health at Deakin University.
Danny has worked as a clinician, manager and educator in mental health and clinical governance, both in rural and metropolitan community and hospital settings. His primary research interests are in health services research, workplace aggression, mental health and aged care, psychosocial factors affecting clinical performance and work outcomes, and workforce development.
Danny's doctoral research comprised an epidemiological study of workplace aggression in clinical medical practice, highlighting the need for more effective, evidence based approaches to the prevention and minimisation of this important work health and safety, and public health concern. Current and planned research includes studies in aged care and mental health workforce development, improving mental health outcomes for older people in general practice settings, and the impact of practice nurses on general practitioner well-being and work outcomes.
Danny's doctoral research comprised an epidemiological study of workplace aggression in clinical medical practice, highlighting the need for more effective, evidence based approaches to the prevention and minimisation of this important work health and safety, and public health concern. Current and planned research includes studies in aged care and mental health workforce development, improving mental health outcomes for older people in general practice settings, and the impact of practice nurses on general practitioner well-being and work outcomes.
Anna Janssen
Program Manager - Research in Implementation Science and eHealth group (RISe), University of Sydney
Anna has a background in media technologies, and online education management and administration. She has been involved in the ongoing management of a number of continuing medical education initiatives, as well as having experience within the publishing and printing industries.
Currently Anna works as a program manager within the Research in Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe) group at The University of Sydney. She is also the the Knowledge Manager for the Sydney West Knowledge Portal, an initiative of the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre. Anna is also undertaking her PhD.
Currently Anna works as a program manager within the Research in Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe) group at The University of Sydney. She is also the the Knowledge Manager for the Sydney West Knowledge Portal, an initiative of the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre. Anna is also undertaking her PhD.
Dr Janet Long
Postdoc Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Resilience and Implementation Science, part of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
Janet is a health services researcher with interests in knowledge translation and social and professional networks. She has a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills including social network analysis, interviewing, focus groups, survey design and administration, and analysis of categorical and continuous variables. Originally trained as a general registered nurse Janet has had a wide experience of patient care and management in acute care, theatre, outpatient, mental health, residential and community settings as well as clinical teaching. A career change then led to a science degree and research into invasive plants and the effects of climate change on Australian native plants. Returning to nursing, her last clinical role was as a Clinical Nurse Consultant at Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital.
Janet’s PhD, with Jeffrey Braithwaite at UNSW, used social network analysis to evaluate how a new translational research network increased collaborative links across hospital and university silos. Currently she is working on a range of implementation projects using the theory of behaviour change.
Janet’s PhD, with Jeffrey Braithwaite at UNSW, used social network analysis to evaluate how a new translational research network increased collaborative links across hospital and university silos. Currently she is working on a range of implementation projects using the theory of behaviour change.
Dr Melanie Lovell
Palliative Medicine physician and Clinical Senior Lecturer at Sydney Medical School.
Dr Lovell’s interest in implementation research was triggered by the persisting evidence-practice gap in pain management. She was Chair of the National Pain Summit’s Cancer Pain and Palliative Care working group which identified the need for an Australian Cancer Pain guideline. She has led the Working Party, with support from ImPaCCT (the NSW Palliative Care trials group) to develop and pilot test the National Cancer Pain Management guideline housed on the Cancer Council Australia website. This has involved a rigorous research program both in evaluation of the evidence, survey of the national need, and piloting of the guideline.
In order to develop the implementation toolkit for the guideline, Dr Lovell’s team undertook process mapping and environmental scanning to assess the barriers and facilitators to implementation of the guideline. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has recently granted funding to undertake a randomised controlled trial of the guideline and implementation strategies evaluating impacts of patient pain, caregiver and health economic outcomes.
The Stop Cancer PAIN Trial will test a suite of implementation strategies, including an audit and feedback mechanism, health professional education, and patient-held resources aimed at helping patients take an active role in self-management and care coordination and advocate for person-centred evidence-based care from their medical team. The trial will use a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled design wherein participating services will take turns in introducing the strategies so that outcomes can be compared before and after the change in practice.
Dr Lovell’s other research interests include clinical trials in palliative care and spirituality. She is on the Trials Management Committee of the Palliative Care Clinical Trials Collaborative (PaCCSC) and ImPaCCT and is Site Investigator at Greenwich for clinical trials investigating better ways to assess and manage symptoms experienced by people with advanced disease.
In order to develop the implementation toolkit for the guideline, Dr Lovell’s team undertook process mapping and environmental scanning to assess the barriers and facilitators to implementation of the guideline. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has recently granted funding to undertake a randomised controlled trial of the guideline and implementation strategies evaluating impacts of patient pain, caregiver and health economic outcomes.
The Stop Cancer PAIN Trial will test a suite of implementation strategies, including an audit and feedback mechanism, health professional education, and patient-held resources aimed at helping patients take an active role in self-management and care coordination and advocate for person-centred evidence-based care from their medical team. The trial will use a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled design wherein participating services will take turns in introducing the strategies so that outcomes can be compared before and after the change in practice.
Dr Lovell’s other research interests include clinical trials in palliative care and spirituality. She is on the Trials Management Committee of the Palliative Care Clinical Trials Collaborative (PaCCSC) and ImPaCCT and is Site Investigator at Greenwich for clinical trials investigating better ways to assess and manage symptoms experienced by people with advanced disease.
Dr Lisa Mackenzie
Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Health Behaviour Research Group, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute and member of HCRA TCRC
Lisa was awarded her PhD (Behavioural Science) from the University of Newcastle in May 2014. Lisa’s PhD research focused on radiation oncology outpatients’ perceptions of patient-centred cancer care and preferences for psychosocial support and life expectancy disclosure. Lisa has also conducted similar research in a Japan, as one of 20 recipients nationwide of a prestigious 2011 Prime Minister's Australia Asia Endeavour Award.
Lisa’s research program focuses on addressing the practical and psychosocial needs of cancer patients, with an increasing focus on patients living in geographically isolated areas. Lisa’s interest in cancer implementation science is reflected by her involvement in related projects including implementation of telehealth support for rural breast cancer patients, and a Hunter Cancer Research Alliance proof-of-concept study exploring the implementation of psychosocial care guidelines in a cancer treatment centre.
Lisa’s research program focuses on addressing the practical and psychosocial needs of cancer patients, with an increasing focus on patients living in geographically isolated areas. Lisa’s interest in cancer implementation science is reflected by her involvement in related projects including implementation of telehealth support for rural breast cancer patients, and a Hunter Cancer Research Alliance proof-of-concept study exploring the implementation of psychosocial care guidelines in a cancer treatment centre.
Dr Kristen McCarter
Postdoctoral researcher and Clinical Psychologist, Research Coordinator at the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle
Dr McCarter has made significant contributions to understanding and promoting the delivery of head and neck cancer patient care with recent publications exploring care consistent with evidence based nutrition guidelines, distress screening and referral and patient experiences. This includes developing a practice change intervention to improve oncology dietitian adherence to best practice guidelines, a systematic review of distress screening interventions in cancer and a qualitative study of cancer patient experiences of a health behaviour intervention.
Kristen is currently coordinating an NHMRC funded ‘Quitlink’ trial, a new smoking cessation intervention for people living with severe and enduring mental illness. She is also leading a drug and alcohol capacity building program funded by the Primary Health Network for primary care providers in the Hunter New England area. Kristen is also collaborating with other UON and Hunter Cancer Research Alliance affiliated researchers to assess and improve the delivery of distress screening and referral in cancer settings. This work aligns closely with Kristen's interest in improving the mental and physical health of complex populations.
Kristen has an outstanding record relative to opportunity including a rapidly increasing publication trajectory with 9 peer-reviewed papers (lead author on 7). Kristen has also attracted over $260 000 in research funding since 2014. She presented at 4 national and 1 international conferences in 2017.
Kristen is currently coordinating an NHMRC funded ‘Quitlink’ trial, a new smoking cessation intervention for people living with severe and enduring mental illness. She is also leading a drug and alcohol capacity building program funded by the Primary Health Network for primary care providers in the Hunter New England area. Kristen is also collaborating with other UON and Hunter Cancer Research Alliance affiliated researchers to assess and improve the delivery of distress screening and referral in cancer settings. This work aligns closely with Kristen's interest in improving the mental and physical health of complex populations.
Kristen has an outstanding record relative to opportunity including a rapidly increasing publication trajectory with 9 peer-reviewed papers (lead author on 7). Kristen has also attracted over $260 000 in research funding since 2014. She presented at 4 national and 1 international conferences in 2017.
Professor Jane Phillips
Professor of Nursing and Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care at the University of Technology Sydney
Professor Jane Phillips is a professor of nursing with experience in delivering evidenced-based palliative care across diverse settings, including rural and regional Australia.
She has led and evaluated complex health service reforms and has led a number of major cancer and palliative care reform initiatives at the local and national levels. Jane’s research aims to improve care outcomes for people in the last year of their life by strengthening the nexus between research, policy and practice. She is currently evaluating non-pharmacological interventions to improve pain, breathlessness and delirium; looking at health services that can improve care for older people with cancer, and; undertaking translational research in the areas of pain management and symptom management. She has developed and evaluated nurse-coordinated models of palliative care and has extensive experience in cancer and chronic disease nursing and research.
She has led and evaluated complex health service reforms and has led a number of major cancer and palliative care reform initiatives at the local and national levels. Jane’s research aims to improve care outcomes for people in the last year of their life by strengthening the nexus between research, policy and practice. She is currently evaluating non-pharmacological interventions to improve pain, breathlessness and delirium; looking at health services that can improve care for older people with cancer, and; undertaking translational research in the areas of pain management and symptom management. She has developed and evaluated nurse-coordinated models of palliative care and has extensive experience in cancer and chronic disease nursing and research.
Associate Professor Kate Pumpa
Associate Professor Exercise Physiology & Nutrition Dietetics at Canberra University
Kate completed her PhD at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2008 before consulting as a Sports Dietitian to Leinster Rugby based in Dublin, Ireland until 2010. Since returning to Australia, Kate has worked in a teaching/research position at the University of Canberra, but also worked for the ACT Brumbies and the Australian Rugby Union as a sports dietitian to keep her professional skills up.
Over the last 5 years at the University of Canberra, Kate has been teaching Exercise Physiology, and conducting research in two main areas: the evaluation and application of assessing energy expenditure in athletes to assist with nutrition prescription, and the evaluation of different exercise interventions in people with chronic disease, specifically cancer. She is on the editorial board for the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, the Journal of Fitness Research, and the Fitness Advisor for Australia’s Women’s Health Magazine.
Kate has a few projects currently on the go. One of the projects she is working on is investigating the prevalence of overweight/obesity and cardiometabolic risk factor in women with breast cancer. The aim of this project is to retrospectively assess changes in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors to identify when and how much weight women put on from diagnosis up to 5 years post, and identify relationships between weight gain and cardiometabolic risk factors. She is also working on a project involving thermoregulation in spinal cord athletes and the validation of different body composition techniques in fire fighters.
As an Exercise Physiologist educating Oncologists, GPs, and individuals with cancer on the importance of exercise is challenging. Exercise is one treatment modality that a majority of cancer patients can participate in without negative side effects. It not only improves physical strength, but also quality of life, mental health, and can reduce the onset of a range of other chronic diseases such as Diabetes and CVD. Exercise Guidelines have been published by the American College of Sports Medicine, but if they are not implemented, cancer patients are not getting the most effective and holistic treatment available.
Over the last 5 years at the University of Canberra, Kate has been teaching Exercise Physiology, and conducting research in two main areas: the evaluation and application of assessing energy expenditure in athletes to assist with nutrition prescription, and the evaluation of different exercise interventions in people with chronic disease, specifically cancer. She is on the editorial board for the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, the Journal of Fitness Research, and the Fitness Advisor for Australia’s Women’s Health Magazine.
Kate has a few projects currently on the go. One of the projects she is working on is investigating the prevalence of overweight/obesity and cardiometabolic risk factor in women with breast cancer. The aim of this project is to retrospectively assess changes in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors to identify when and how much weight women put on from diagnosis up to 5 years post, and identify relationships between weight gain and cardiometabolic risk factors. She is also working on a project involving thermoregulation in spinal cord athletes and the validation of different body composition techniques in fire fighters.
As an Exercise Physiologist educating Oncologists, GPs, and individuals with cancer on the importance of exercise is challenging. Exercise is one treatment modality that a majority of cancer patients can participate in without negative side effects. It not only improves physical strength, but also quality of life, mental health, and can reduce the onset of a range of other chronic diseases such as Diabetes and CVD. Exercise Guidelines have been published by the American College of Sports Medicine, but if they are not implemented, cancer patients are not getting the most effective and holistic treatment available.
Dr Nicole Rankin
Translational Research Fellow for T2/T3 research at Sydney Catalyst
In collaboration with the Evidence into Practice (T2/T3) Working Group and Sydney Catalyst members, Nicole will be directly involved in the strategic development of the T2/T3 program and the design of research projects. Nicole is also on the Sydney Catalyst Scientific Advisory Committee.
Nicole has 15 years experience working in cancer control, primarily in psychosocial and behavioural aspects of patient care. She has undergraduate qualifications in Psychology and Sociology and completed her PhD in 2000 in the discipline of Behavioural Science in Relation to Medicine at the University of Newcastle. Her past experience includes working in and managing the Psychosocial Program at the National Breast Cancer Centre (2000-2003), as manager of the Patient Support Program at the Cancer Institute NSW (2004-2006) and the Executive Director of PoCoG (the Psycho-oncology Cooperative Research Group) from 2006-2009. She has also held research positions at the University of Wollongong (2009-2010) and Relationships Australia (2011).
Nicole's research interests are in implementation science and knowledge translation and is currently focused on lung cancer and reducing evidence-practice gaps, the development and implementation of quality indicators in cancer, psycho-oncology including screening and management of distress in cancer patients and health services research. She also has a long standing interest in how the findings of research are implemented into clinical practice and policy, having contributed to the development of clinical practice guidelines and the implementation of psychology, social work and specialist breast nurse roles in Australian cancer settings.
Nicole has 15 years experience working in cancer control, primarily in psychosocial and behavioural aspects of patient care. She has undergraduate qualifications in Psychology and Sociology and completed her PhD in 2000 in the discipline of Behavioural Science in Relation to Medicine at the University of Newcastle. Her past experience includes working in and managing the Psychosocial Program at the National Breast Cancer Centre (2000-2003), as manager of the Patient Support Program at the Cancer Institute NSW (2004-2006) and the Executive Director of PoCoG (the Psycho-oncology Cooperative Research Group) from 2006-2009. She has also held research positions at the University of Wollongong (2009-2010) and Relationships Australia (2011).
Nicole's research interests are in implementation science and knowledge translation and is currently focused on lung cancer and reducing evidence-practice gaps, the development and implementation of quality indicators in cancer, psycho-oncology including screening and management of distress in cancer patients and health services research. She also has a long standing interest in how the findings of research are implemented into clinical practice and policy, having contributed to the development of clinical practice guidelines and the implementation of psychology, social work and specialist breast nurse roles in Australian cancer settings.
Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly
Clinical Psychologist at Sydney Youth Cancer Service and Research Fellow at the Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital
Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly is a Clinical Psychologist at Sydney Youth Cancer Service, the lead multidisciplinary clinical service for the care of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients based at Sydney Children's/Prince of Wales Hospitals, Randwick.Ursula also holds a research position as a Cancer Institute New South Wales Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, based at the Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital. Her dual roles as clinician and researcher make her particularly passionate about both conducting clinically-relevant research, and facilitating its rapid implementation into practice to improve outcomes for cancer patients and survivors.
Ursula has an 8-year research track record, and as a Leukaemia Foundation of Australia PhD student conducted research examining distress and adjustment among adolescent and young adult cancer patients. This work was recognised with the Inaugural Premier's Cancer Institute NSW 'Rising Star' PhD award in 2014. Her post-doctoral research is devoted to further understanding the mechanisms of distress and adjustment among AYAs across the cancer trajectory, as well as implementing several psychosocial interventions into practice, including an advance-care planning guide for AYAs with cancer, and an online mental health intervention for AYAs who have recently completed cancer treatment.
Tim was a visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School for 12 months in 2008/9 during which time he developed new methodologies for the dissemination of evidence based medicine through online learning. He has also acted as an advisor and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School Project, Partners Harvard Medical International and the Joint Commission in the United States.
Ursula has an 8-year research track record, and as a Leukaemia Foundation of Australia PhD student conducted research examining distress and adjustment among adolescent and young adult cancer patients. This work was recognised with the Inaugural Premier's Cancer Institute NSW 'Rising Star' PhD award in 2014. Her post-doctoral research is devoted to further understanding the mechanisms of distress and adjustment among AYAs across the cancer trajectory, as well as implementing several psychosocial interventions into practice, including an advance-care planning guide for AYAs with cancer, and an online mental health intervention for AYAs who have recently completed cancer treatment.
Tim was a visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School for 12 months in 2008/9 during which time he developed new methodologies for the dissemination of evidence based medicine through online learning. He has also acted as an advisor and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School Project, Partners Harvard Medical International and the Joint Commission in the United States.
Professor Tim Shaw
Director of Research in Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe) group
Tim is the inaugural Professor of eHealth and Director of Research in Implementation Science and eHealth Group (RISe) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. He is an internationally recognised leader in the impact of technology on healthcare and translation of evidence into practice and policy. He works at the interface between quality improvement, professional development and implementation science to ensure the rapid and sustained uptake of innovation. Over the last 5 years CI Shaw has been CI on over 20 grants and consultancies totalling over $12M.
He is a Chief Investigator at the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre and Director of their core implementation and education program investigating the role of multi-disciplinary teams in translational research. He is leading the development of the Data Innovation Lab in Cancer in the Westmead Hospital Precinct focused on the downstream use of EMR data for performance improvement. He has an active international program working with Partners Healthcare and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, he teaches annually on the Harvard Macy program on Innovation in Healthcare and Education in Boston and has also acted as an advisor and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Partners Harvard Medical International and the Joint Commission in the United States.
Tim sits or has recently sat on a wide range of Committees and working parties including the Western Sydney Local Health District Board Education Committee, the Governing Council of the Health Data Science Coalition, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (Boston) Education Committee, the National Breast Cancer Foundation Research Advisory Committee and the Cancer Research Network Advisory Committee.
Tim works closely with a wide range of government organisations and industry groups including the Clinical Excellence Commission, eHealth NSW, the Cancer Institute NSW, Partners Healthcare (Boston).
Tim’s focus is on working collaboratively with different health partners and consumers to develop realistic and effective programs of change.
He is a Chief Investigator at the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre and Director of their core implementation and education program investigating the role of multi-disciplinary teams in translational research. He is leading the development of the Data Innovation Lab in Cancer in the Westmead Hospital Precinct focused on the downstream use of EMR data for performance improvement. He has an active international program working with Partners Healthcare and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, he teaches annually on the Harvard Macy program on Innovation in Healthcare and Education in Boston and has also acted as an advisor and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Partners Harvard Medical International and the Joint Commission in the United States.
Tim sits or has recently sat on a wide range of Committees and working parties including the Western Sydney Local Health District Board Education Committee, the Governing Council of the Health Data Science Coalition, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (Boston) Education Committee, the National Breast Cancer Foundation Research Advisory Committee and the Cancer Research Network Advisory Committee.
Tim works closely with a wide range of government organisations and industry groups including the Clinical Excellence Commission, eHealth NSW, the Cancer Institute NSW, Partners Healthcare (Boston).
Tim’s focus is on working collaboratively with different health partners and consumers to develop realistic and effective programs of change.
Dr Emily Stone
Staff Specialist in Thoracic Medicine at St Vincents Hospital
Dr Stone graduated in Medicine from the University of Sydney in 1993 and completed specialist pulmonology training at some of Sydney’s leading teaching Hospitals before completing a Masters in Medicine at the University of Sydney. She has been a consultant thoracic physician at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney since 2004 with a conjoint appointment at the University of New South Wales.
Her interest and expertise in thoracic oncology has developed since she founded the St Vincent’s Hospital Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Team in 2006. This group has attracted development support from the Cancer Institute of New South Wales, runs an integrated, prospective electronic database and employs dedicated research assistants. Dr Stone runs a specialist Lung Cancer Clinic at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, participates in clinical lung cancer trials at both Principal and Co-Investigator levels and collaborates in translational research across multiple institutions. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies at the University of Sydney investigating structured reporting, real-time data and the effect of multidisciplinary care on lung cancer outcomes. Dr Stone was a member of the WCLC 2013 Local Organising Committee, has been on the IASLC Tobacco Control Committee since 2013, contributes to the monthly News from the IASLC Tobacco Control Committee column in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, is on the Communications Committee for WCLC 2015 is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Her interest and expertise in thoracic oncology has developed since she founded the St Vincent’s Hospital Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Team in 2006. This group has attracted development support from the Cancer Institute of New South Wales, runs an integrated, prospective electronic database and employs dedicated research assistants. Dr Stone runs a specialist Lung Cancer Clinic at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, participates in clinical lung cancer trials at both Principal and Co-Investigator levels and collaborates in translational research across multiple institutions. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies at the University of Sydney investigating structured reporting, real-time data and the effect of multidisciplinary care on lung cancer outcomes. Dr Stone was a member of the WCLC 2013 Local Organising Committee, has been on the IASLC Tobacco Control Committee since 2013, contributes to the monthly News from the IASLC Tobacco Control Committee column in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, is on the Communications Committee for WCLC 2015 is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Dr Natalie Taylor
Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation. Lead for Health and Healthcare Behaviour Change Research
Natalie Taylor is a health psychologist by background, working in health systems research and studying improving healthcare. Natalie has particular expertise in health and organisational behaviour change, human factors, patient safety, and measurement.
She completed her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK, in the area of health behaviour change. Natalie's most recent work focused on bringing behaviour change and implementation science concepts together to achieve improvements in NHS clinical contexts, and was undertaken as part of her role as a research fellow at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, UK. As part of this role she also led the development of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Bradford, as part of the BIB 1000 project.
Natalie's current role is to contribute to a program of research in implementation science, particularly focused on the AIHI's five year NHMRC program grant: Creating safe, effective systems of care: the translational challenge, conducting research into health systems improvement.
She completed her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK, in the area of health behaviour change. Natalie's most recent work focused on bringing behaviour change and implementation science concepts together to achieve improvements in NHS clinical contexts, and was undertaken as part of her role as a research fellow at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, UK. As part of this role she also led the development of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Bradford, as part of the BIB 1000 project.
Natalie's current role is to contribute to a program of research in implementation science, particularly focused on the AIHI's five year NHMRC program grant: Creating safe, effective systems of care: the translational challenge, conducting research into health systems improvement.
