Associate Professor Joel Rhee
Associate Professor

Associate Professor Joel Rhee

BSc(Med) MBBS(Hons) GCULT PhD, FRACGP

Medicine & Health
School of Population Health

About me:
I am an academic GP leading the Discipline of General Practice and Primary Care at the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney. I am a highly motivated teacher, researcher and clinician with a passion for improving the delivery of care by primary health care professionals in people who are most in need, especially people with palliative and supportive care needs, older people especially those living in residential aged care homes, and people with advanced and chronic conditions especially cancer. I am interested in collaborative research, and in supervising higher research degree students including MRes and PhD.

Memberships of professional societies, organisations, committees:
- RACGP (Cancer and Palliative Care Network - Chair, Expert Committee - Research, National Research and Evaluation Ethics Committee (NREEC), Clinical Examiner, Fellow)
- Australian Journal of General Practice Editorial Advisory Committee
- NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation Palliative Care Network Executive
- Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care
- Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4) (Palliative Care Engine Room - co-chair, Scientific Committee)
- Australian Medical Council (Deputy Chair - Medicine Writing Panel, Population Health and Ethics Writing Panel, clinical examiner)
- Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) (Primary Care Working Group - chair, Cancer Survivorship Group Executive)
- Cancer Australia Intercollegiate Advisory Committee (RACGP representative)
- Cancer Council NSW Health Services Advisory Group

  • Journal articles | 2022
    Vilapakkam Nagarajan S; Lewis V; Halcomb EJ; Rhee J; Tieman J; Clayton JM, 2022, 'Australian general practice experiences of implementing a structured approach to initiating advance care planning and palliative care: a qualitative study', BMJ open, 12, pp. e057184, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057184
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Cancer survivorship care and general practice: A qualitative study of roles of general practice team members in Australia', Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, pp. e1415 - e1426, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13549
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Development of a COVID-19 virtual community of practice in New South Wales', Australian Journal of General Practice, 51, pp. 263 - 269, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-03-21-5881
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'EP01.03-006 Potential Drivers of Lung Cancer Screening Participation in Australia: A Qualitative Study to Inform Future Implementation', Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 17, pp. S174 - S174, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2022.07.288
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'EP01.03-012 Acceptability and Feasibility of Lung Cancer Screening in Australia: The View of Key Stakeholders', Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 17, pp. S177 - S177, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2022.07.294
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Exploring the role of general practitioners in addressing financial toxicity in cancer patients', Supportive Care in Cancer, 30, pp. 457 - 464, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06420-5
    Journal articles | 2021
    Bonney A; Metusela C; Mullan J; Barnett S; Rhee J; Kobel C; Batterham M, 2021, 'Clinical and healthcare improvement through My Health Record usage and education in general practice (CHIME-GP): a study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial', Trials, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05438-8
    Journal articles | 2021
    Carey M; Zucca A; Rhee J; Sanson-Fisher R; Norton G; Oldmeadow C; Evans T; Nair K, 2021, 'Essential components of health assessment for older people in primary care: a cross-sectional survey of Australian general practitioners', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45, pp. 506 - 511, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13108
    Journal articles | 2021
    Chan RJ; Buhagiar S; Teleni L; Simonsen C; Turner J; Rawson C; Hart NH; Jones L; Gordon L; Joseph R; Agbejule OA; Henderson F; Rhee J; Ryan M; Carrington C; Mapp S, 2021, 'Partnering with general practitioners to optimize survivorship for patients with lymphoma: a phase II randomized controlled trial (the GOSPEL I trial)', Trials, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04945-4
    Journal articles | 2021
    Frank O; Tam CWM; Rhee J, 2021, 'Is it time to stop using statistical significance?', Australian Prescriber, 44, pp. 16 - 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2020.074
    Journal articles | 2021
    Koczwara B; Thornton-Benko E; Cohn RJ; Chan RJ; Rhee J; Joske D; Iddawela M; Vardy JL, 2021, 'Personalised cancer care in the era of precision medicine', Australian journal of general practice, 50, pp. 533 - 537, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-04-21-5953
    Journal articles | 2021
    Thompson B; Philcox S; Devereaux B; Metz A; Croagh D; Windsor J; Davaris A; Gupta S; Barlow J; Rhee J; Tagkalidis P; Zimet A; Sharma A; Manocha R; Neale RE, 2021, 'A decision support tool for the detection of pancreatic cancer in general practice: A modified Delphi consensus', Pancreatology, 21, pp. 1476 - 1481, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2021.08.007
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ugalde A; Winter N; Sansom-Daly UM; Rhee J; Jongebloed H; Bergin RJ; Livingston PM, 2021, 'Effective integration of caregivers and families as part of the care team for people with cancer', Australian journal of general practice, 50, pp. 527 - 531, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-03-21-5897
    Journal articles | 2021
    2021, 'Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of general practitioners and general practice nurses regarding influenza vaccination for young children', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 27, pp. 276 - 283, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY20175
    Journal articles | 2021
    2021, 'Promoting hearing loss support in general practice: a qualitative concept-mapping study', Public Health Research and Practice, 31, http://dx.doi.org/10.17061/phrp3152131
    Journal articles | 2020
    Cerni J; Rhee J; Hosseinzadeh H, 2020, 'End-of-life cancer care resource utilisation in rural versus urban settings: A systematic review', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, pp. 1 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17144955
    Journal articles | 2020
    Mitchell G; Aubin M; Senior H; Johnson C; Fallon-Ferguson J; Williams B; Monterosso L; Rhee JJ; McVey P; Grant M; Nwachukwu H; Yates P, 2020, 'General practice nurses and physicians and end of life: A systematic review of models of care', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002114
    Journal articles | 2020
    Rhee J; Grant M; Detering K; Clayton J; Arthurs K, 2020, 'Dying still matters in the age of COVID-19', Australian journal of general practice, 49, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-COVID-28
    Journal articles | 2020
    Rhee J; Raymond B, 2020, 'Incorporating an advance care planning screening tool into routine health assessments with older people', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26, pp. 240 - 246, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY19195
    Journal articles | 2020
    Rhee JJ; Rhee JJ; Grant M; Senior H; Monterosso L; McVey P; Johnson C; Johnson C; Aubin M; Nwachukwu H; Bailey C; Fallon-Ferguson J; Yates P; Williams B; Mitchell G, 2020, 'Facilitators and barriers to general practitioner and general practice nurse participation in end-of-life care: Systematic review', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002109
    Journal articles | 2020
    Schaffer AL; Pearson SA; Perez-Concha O; Dobbins T; Ward RL; Leeuwen MTV; Rhee JJ; Laaksonen MA; Craigen G; Vajdic CM, 2020, 'Diagnostic and health service pathways to diagnosis of cancer-registry notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP)', PLoS ONE, 15, pp. e0230373, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230373
    Journal articles | 2019
    Littlewood J; Hinchcliff R; Lo W; Rhee J, 2019, 'Advance care planning in rural New South Wales from the perspective of general practice registrars and recently fellowed general practitioners', Australian Journal of Rural Health, 27, pp. 398 - 404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12525
    Journal articles | 2019
    Miller H; Tan J; Clayton JM; Meller A; Hermiz O; Zwar N; Rhee J, 2019, 'Patient experiences of nurse-facilitated advance care planning in a general practice setting: A qualitative study', BMC Palliative Care, 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12904-019-0411-z
    Journal articles | 2019
    Poulos RG; Marwood S; Harkin D; Opher S; Clift S; Cole AMD; Rhee J; Beilharz K; Poulos CJ, 2019, 'Arts on prescription for community-dwelling older people with a range of health and wellness needs', Health and Social Care in the Community, 27, pp. 483 - 492, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12669
    Journal articles | 2019
    Rhee J; Meller A; Krysinska K; Gonski P; Naganathan V; Zwar N; Hayen A; Cullen J; O Keefe J-A; McDonald J; Harris-Roxas B; Caplan GA, 2019, 'Advance care planning for patients with advanced illnesses attending hospital outpatient clinics study: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial', BMJ Open, 9, pp. e023107, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023107
    Journal articles | 2019
    Risk J; Mohammadi L; Rhee J; Walters L; Ward PR, 2019, 'Barriers, enablers and initiatives for uptake of advance care planning in general practice: A systematic review and critical interpretive synthesis', BMJ Open, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030275
    Journal articles | 2019
    Senior H; Grant M; Rhee JJ; Aubin M; McVey P; Johnson C; Monterosso L; Nwachukwu H; Fallon-Ferguson J; Yates P; Williams B; Mitchell G, 2019, 'General practice physicians' and nurses' self-reported multidisciplinary end-of-life care: A systematic review', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001852
    Journal articles | 2019
    Vajdic CM; Perez-Concha O; Dobbins T; Ward RL; Schaffer AL; van Leeuwen MT; Rhee JJ; Laaksonen MA; Craigen G; Pearson SA, 2019, 'Demographic, social and lifestyle risk factors for cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP)', Cancer Epidemiology, 60, pp. 156 - 161, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2019.04.004
    Journal articles | 2019
    Vajdic CM; Perez-Concha O; Rhee JJ; Dobbins T; Ward RL; Schaffer AL; van Leeuwen MT; Laaksonen MA; Craigen G; Pearson SA, 2019, 'Health-related predictors of cancer registry-notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP)', Cancer Epidemiology, 61, pp. 1 - 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2019.05.001
    Journal articles | 2019
    2019, 'End-of-life palliative care resource utilization in cancer care: A focus on the urban-rural continuum.', JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2019.37.31_suppl.52
    Journal articles | 2018
    Johnson CE; McVey P; Rhee JJO; Senior H; Monterosso L; Williams B; Fallon-Ferguson J; Grant M; Nwachukwu H; Aubin M; Yates P; Mitchell G, 2018, 'General practice palliative care: Patient and carer expectations, advance care plans and place of death - A systematic review', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001549
    Journal articles | 2018
    Mitchell GK; Senior HE; Johnson CE; Fallon-Ferguson J; Williams B; Monterosso L; Rhee JJ; McVey P; Grant MP; Aubin M; Nwachukwu HTG; Yates PM, 2018, 'Systematic review of general practice end-of-life symptom control', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 8, pp. 411 - 420, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2017-001374
    Journal articles | 2018
    Mitchell GK; Senior HE; Rhee JJ; Ware RS; Young S; Teo PCK; Murray S; Boyd K; Clayton JM, 2018, 'Using intuition or a formal palliative care needs assessment screening process in general practice to predict death within 12 months: A randomised controlled trial', Palliative Medicine, 32, pp. 384 - 394, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269216317698621
    Journal articles | 2018
    Rhee JJ; Teo PCK; Mitchell GK; Senior HE; Tan AJH; Clayton JM, 2018, 'General practitioners (GPs) and end-of-life care: A qualitative study of Australian GPs and specialist palliative care clinicians', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001531
    Journal articles | 2018
    Shulruf B; Coombes L; Damodaran A; Freeman A; Jones P; Lieberman S; Poole P; Rhee J; Wilkinson T; Harris P, 2018, 'Cut-scores revisited: Feasibility of a new method for group standard setting', BMC Medical Education, 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1238-7
    Journal articles | 2018
    Shulruf B; Damodaran A; Jones P; Kennedy S; Mangos G; O'Sullivan AJ; Rhee J; Taylor S; Velan G; Harris P, 2018, 'Enhancing the defensibility of examiners' marks in high stake OSCEs', BMC medical education, 18, pp. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-017-1112-z
    Journal articles | 2018
    Tam CWM; Khan AH; Knight A; Rhee J; Price K; McLean K, 2018, 'How doctors conceptualise P values: A mixed methods study', Australian journal of general practice, 47, pp. 705 - 710, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-02-18-4502
    Journal articles | 2018
    Tran M; Grant M; Clayton J; Rhee J, 2018, 'Advance care decision making and planning', Australian Journal of General Practice, 47, http://dx.doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-06-18-4613
    Journal articles | 2016
    Fan E; Rhee JJ, 2016, 'A self-reported survey on the confidence levels and motivation of New South Wales practices nurses on conducting Advance Care Planning (ACP) initiatives in the general practice setting', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 23, pp. 80 - 86, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY15174
    Journal articles | 2016
    Tapsfield J; Hall C; Lunan C; McCutcheon C; McLoughlin P; Rhee JJ; Rus AL; Spiller J; Murray SA, 2016, 'Most people in Scotland now benefit from anticipatory care before they die: an after death analysis of primary care records', BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-001014
    Journal articles | 2016
    2016, 'Electronic key information summaries can highlight patients’ wishes out of hours', BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 6, pp. 405.3 - 406, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001204.56
    Journal articles | 2015
    Balasooriya C; Rhee J; Shulruf B; Canalese R; Zwar N, 2015, 'Evaluating the Guideline Enhancement Tool (GET): An innovative clinical training tool to enhance the use of hypertension guidelines in general practice', BMC Medical Education, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-014-0273-2
    Journal articles | 2015
    Fletcher S; Sinclair C; Rhee JJ; Goh D; Auret K, 2015, 'Rural health professionals’ experiences in implementing advance care planning: A focus group study', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22, pp. 423 - 427, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY15004
    Journal articles | 2015
    Mortimer NJ; Rhee JJ; Guy R; Hayen A; Lau AYS, 2015, 'A Web-Based Personally Controlled Health Management System Increases Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Rates in Young People: A Randomized Controlled Trial', J Am Med Inform Assoc, 22, pp. 805 - 814, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocu052
    Journal articles | 2015
    2015, 'The ‘surprise’ question may improve the accuracy of GPs in identifying death in patients with advanced stage IV solid-cell cancer.', Evid Based Med, 20, pp. 71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmed-2014-110114
    Journal articles | 2014
    Cartwright C; Montgomery J; Rhee J; Zwar N; Banbury A, 2014, 'Medical Practitioners′ Knowledge and Self-reported Practices of Substitute Decision-making and Implementation of Advance Care Plans', Internal Medicine Journal, 44, pp. 234 - 239, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imj.12354
    Journal articles | 2013
    Rhee JJ; Zwar NA; Kemp LA, 2013, 'Advance care planning and interpersonal relationships: a two-way street', Family Practice, 30, pp. 219 - 226, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cms063
    Journal articles | 2013
    Rhee JJ; Zwar NA; Kemp LA, 2013, 'Why are advance care planning decisions not implemented? Insights from interviews with Australian general practitioners', Journal of Palliative Medicine, 16, pp. 1197 - 1204, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2013.0156
    Journal articles | 2012
    Rhee JJ; Zwar NA; Kemp LA, 2012, 'Uptake and implementation of Advance Care Planning in Australia: findings of key informant interviews', Australian Health Review, 36, pp. 98 - 104, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AH11019
    Journal articles | 2011
    Rhee J; Zwar NA; Kemp LA, 2011, 'How is advance care planning conceptualised in Australia?: Findings from key informant interviews', Australian Health Review, 35, pp. 197 - 203, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AH10883
    Journal articles | 2008
    Rhee J; Zwar NA; Vagholkar S; Dennis SM; Broadbent AM; Mitchell GF, 2008, 'Attitudes and Barriers to Involvement in Palliative Care by Australian Urban General Practitioners', Journal of Palliative Medicine, 11, pp. 980 - 985, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2007.0251
  • Conference Papers | 2023
    Rankin N; Dodd RH; Dunlop KLA; Stone E; Yap ML; Rhee J; Sharman AR; McCullough S; Marshall HM, 2023, 'What Strategies Are Recommended for Potential Implementation of a National Lung Cancer Screening in Australia?', in D14. CUTTING EDGE CONCEPTS IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, American Thoracic Society, presented at American Thoracic Society 2023 International Conference, May 19-24, 2023 - Washington, DC, http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_meetingabstracts.a6219
    Preprints | 2020
    Chan R; Buhagiar S; Teleni L; Simonsen C; Turner J; Jones L; Gordon L; Joseph R; Agbejule OA; Henderson F; Rhee J; Mapp S, 2020, Partnering with General Practitioners to Optimize Survivorship for Patients with Lymphoma: A phase II Randomized Controlled Trial (The GOSPEL 1 Trial), , http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-32868/v1
    Conference Papers | 2019
    2019, 'OP77 The advance project: an australian national program to support nurses to initiate advance care planning in general practice', in Oral Presentations, British Medical Journal Publishing Group, presented at ACP-I Congress Abstracts, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2019-acpicongressabs.77
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    2018, 'How we (mis)conceptualise p-values (and what we can do about it)', presented at RACGP Annual Conference (GP18), Gold Coast Conference & Exhibition Centre, QLD, Australia, 11 October 2018 - 13 October 2018
    Conference Posters | 2016
    Balasooriya C; Rhee J; Olupeliyawa A; Zwar N; Shulruf B; Canalese R; Jabbour V, 2016, 'The experience of using the Scrip Concordance Test in educational research.', Perth, Australia, presented at ANZAHPE - OTTAWA 2016 Joint Conference, Perth, Australia, 19 March 2016 - 23 March 2016, https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/363deb_3fc11e0e465046a0a2339f92f7a78993.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Lo WW; Rhee J; Challinor K; Zwar N; Balasooriya C; Damadoran A; Bhalla S; Thompson R; Vuong K, 2015, 'Don’t BLAST your medical students! Teaching clinical supervisors how to support students experiencing difficulties', in Don’t BLAST your medical students! Teaching clinical supervisors how to support students experiencing difficulties, Australasian Doctors Health Conference, Melbourne, presented at Australasian Doctors Health Conference, Melbourne, 22 October 2015 - 25 October 2015, http://www.adhc2015.org.au/Winston%20Lo%20-%20Don't%20Blast%20your%20Medical%20Students.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Rhee JJ, 2013, 'Why don't GPs do advance care planning or end of life care?', in BMJ Support Palliat Care, ACPEL conference, Melbourne, pp. 226 - 226, presented at ACPEL conference, Melbourne, 09 May 2013 - 11 May 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2013-000491.4

Available on request.

2021 Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4) Geoff Mitchell Rising Star Award
2015 Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care Travel Fellowship – University of Edinburgh
2014 UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine Award for Best PhD Thesis
2013 UNSW Medicine Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
2011 Alan Hodgkinson Prize for Excellence in Teaching (School of Public Health and Community Medicine)
2008 Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care Travel Fellowship – University of Queensland
2007 Alan Chancellor Award for Best First Time Presenter – RACGP National Conference

Research Interests:
Primary care research focusing on advance care decision-making and planning. Primary palliative care research on barriers to GP involvement in palliative care and end of life care planning. Research in early detection and cancer survivorship in general practice. Chronic disease management including alignment of goals of care, de-prescribing and de-referring. Medical education research including digital health. Clinical supervisor training and development using digital technologies.

Broad Research Areas:
Primary Health Care, Ageing, Cancer, Primary Palliative Care

My Teaching

UNSW Medicine program including current convenor of Phase 3 Primary Care.

(Planned) Postgraduate coursework including Masters programs at the School of Population Health.

(Planned) Short courses in primary aged care and primary palliative care.