
As an implementation scientist, I develop, apply, and advance methods to support and study optimal ways to translate evidence into practice to improve care and outcomes for patients. I am the Director of Research in the School of Population Health at UNSW, developing and enacting a research strategy for the school with a team of multidisciplinary academics, clinicians, and professional staff.
My research includes designing and evaluating an evidence-based framework for the implementation of patient safety guidelines in the NHS, as well as an intervention and training package for the prevention of childhood obesity. I am currently overseeing, as the lead investigator, an MRFF Rapid Applied Research Translation project to integrate precision oncology into routine cancer care, and am the convenor for the new Implementation Science course which sits in the Master of Health Leadership and Management and Master of Public Health programs at UNSW.
I manage a team of three senior academic staff, and seven research and professional staff and PhD students, in addition to leading a range of initiatives to build capacity and presence of research within the school. Outside of my University role, duties extend to my role as Co-Chair of the NSW Cancer Conference (Sept 2022) and Chair of the SPHERE Implementation Science Platform Scientific Advisory Panel.
As CIA I lead a Cancer Australia and Cancer Institute NSW funded randomised controlled trial of two implementation approaches to improve referral practices in cancer genetics in seven hospitals across NSW, Vic and WA. I also lead the implementation component to two grant funded projects implementing novel interventions in cancer care (Wakefield C, et al. A new nurse-led intervention to re-engage childhood brain cancer survivors. Medical Research Future Fund. 2020-2023; Ziegler D, et al. Implementing novel therapeutic strategies for childhood brain cancer patients. Cancer Institute NSW. 2020-2025). I currently contribute implementation and behaviour change expertise to several Category 1 funded project in areas as diverse as genomics, unprofessional workplace behaviour, and bowel cancer screening.
Implementation science engagement and service
Media
Innovation and impact
My Research Supervision
I currently supervise four PhD student projects with an implementation science focus:
In 2022, I will be supervising two PhD Candidates, who will be conducting implementation research as part of grant projects:
My Teaching
Through my role with the School of Population Health at UNSW Sydney, I am sharing optimal implementation approaches with students, building more capacity for effective and efficient evidence translation in health.
I am the course convenor for Implementation Science (PHCM9791).