
PhD (Epidemiology), Master of International Public Health, Bachelor of Medicine, Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching
I am a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Medicine UNSW with epidemiology and medical background.
My program of research focuses at effectiveness of health interventions and policies in chronic disease management, medicine use in pregnancy, patient outcomes, quality of care, and research data quality. I have expertise in using complex routine data collections and electronic medical records for research. Currently, I leads analyses to investigate the use of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies in pregnant women and effects on maternal and child health. I am also involved in the development of the Join Us research participant register, the first Australian resource to engage adults in health and medical research in a timely manner.
Mid-Career International Travel Award, 2016, Australasian Epidemiology Association
Australian Postgraduate Award, 2011-2013
Early Career Research Award, 2012, UK Medical Research Council Population Health Sciences Network
International Travel Award, 2012, Western Sydney University
Best Poster, 2011, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research
Cross Cultural Public Health Research Award, 2010, University of Sydney
AusAID scholarship, 2001-2002, Australian Agency for International Development
My research motivation is to generate scientific evidence that will help guide clinical practice and inform health policy. In pharmacoepidemiology, my studies focus on the use of medicines for smoking cessation and chronic conditions in pregnancy and their safety. In health services research and evaluation, I've involved in the national evaluation of the Health Care Homes program - a Federal primary care initiative to improve health and well-being of community dwelling people with chronic health conditions. The evaluation findings will directly inform the Australia's Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022-2032. The 'Join Us' research participant register that I am a co-investigator is a national research resource to engage many Australian adults in health and medical research to boost research productivity, efficiency and patient outcomes. The evaluation of patient compliance to telephone triage advice informed quality of care provided by Healthdirect Australia- a national not-for-profit organisation that provides virtual health services to Australians.
Evidence of research translation from prior project includes the implementation of the Substance Use Screen Policy, patient falls risk assessment tool and check lists for daily nursing clinical handovers in facilities in the South Western Sydney Local Health District. Recommendations for innovative models of nursing care were considered by the NSW Chief Nursing Officer for further development and implementation. Findings in systematic reviews on avoidable hospital readmission indicators were used by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care.
I am a member of the Australasian Epidemiology Association, Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand, International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology
My Teaching
I have taught in the following courses: