Former Student Profiles

Ngaire Kerse

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Health of Older People 1994 - 1997
Years: 1994 - 1998
Supervisors: Prof Doris Young and Prof Leon Flicker

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

After graduation is worked in several jobs for one year and then returned to my home country, Aotearoa NZ, where I accepted a Senior Lecturer position in General Practice and Primary Health Care. Since then I accepted a Harkness Fellowship to Seattle for 2002-2003 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2004 and Professor in 2008. I have served as head of Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Head of School of Population Health and am now the Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well – a philanthropic inaugural chair (research only). We created the Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research last year and are hoping to change the world to be less ageist and improve the wellbeing of older people in Aotearoa NZ and around the world.

What was the best thing about your GR?

My PhD was the only time in my career when is could concentrate of one thing and one thing only, the clinical trial that I ran for those years. Since then I have managed to keep doing research even through times of high teaching load and high service load. I learnt at the University of Melbourne to value the good people around you, chose your collaborators wisely and pick people who want to have the same kind of fun as you.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Always ask for the best pay and don’t be afraid to ask! I was underpaid for years and had to learn this the hard way. Others will take advantage of your brilliance, so make them pay for it! And have fun in your research.

Ruth McNair

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Same sex attracted women and their relationship with GPs: identity, risk and disclosure.
Years: 2006 - 2010

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I spent three years leading the NW node at Sunshine for the Department, teaching and doing more research. Then I resigned my position and became an Honorary Associate Professor. I still do a lot of LGBT health research with large teams of colleagues, teaching, supervising students and developing training modules. So, I use the skills I learned during this time a lot.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Being able to say “No” to everything else for three years and focus in depth on one thing.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

You won’t look back! This will launch so much more for your career.

John Furler

Graduate Research Topic

My GR project explored how social class influenced chronic disease care in general practice. My supervisors were Professor Doris Young and Marilys Guilleman from the School of Population Health.
Years: 2003 - 2007

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

Since I finished my GR project, I stayed on in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care with NHMRC Fellowship funding, working on trials of practice-based interventions to improve diabetes care. The emphasis was on a stronger role for practice nurses and enhanced technology to enable better treatment intensification. I had less focus on social class and equity. Now I’m a full time GP at North Richmond Community Health Centre.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The best thing about a GR project was the chance to think deeply about a topic that interested me. A great privilege and I learnt how many scholars had gone before me in this issue. In the end it really influenced my own clinical practice.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Simply enjoy your work and make the most of the opportunities. The Department of General Practice and Primary Care is a fantastic place to work and become part of the international network of GP and PC scholars. Try and contribute!

Cathy Watson

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Allium sativum (garlic) in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Years: 2009 - 2013
Supervisors: Prof Marie Pirotta, Prof Kit Fairley and Stephen.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

So much! All three of my kids have finished school. Worked on a randomised controlled trial in the area of contraception at Monash for four years. Did a few jobs working on some interesting reviews.  Continued clinical work as a NP at The Women’s. Working on another randomised controlled trial in Adolescent Health in the School of Population Health.

What was the best thing about your GR?

I loved learning from fellow students and getting to know them. Great support network. It launched my research career, enabled me to follow a passion and develop the necessary skills to work in randomized controlled trials, which I love.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Enjoy the ride!

Christine Longman

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Influences on Opioid Pharmacotherapy Prescribing in general practice in Victoria (M.Med thesis)
Years: 2007 - 2009
Supervisors: Professor Meredith Temple- Smith, Professor Nicholas Lintzeris, Dr Gail Gilchrist

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I have continued to work in general practice and treat patients with substance use issues. I undertook three small research projects and published the outcomes with supervision of Professor Temple-Smith.

What was the best thing about your GR?

I learnt a lot about research and how it interacts with general practice. I improved my writing skills enormously and met a range of academics and students who helped me broaden my thinking.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Set time aside and work regularly on the project even when feeling unmotivated. Meet regularly with the supervisor(s) which also helps with motivation. I was working in full-time in general practice over the two years of the research so good discipline was very important in its completion.

Anna Yeung

Graduate Research Topic

Title: The acceptability and feasibility of a chlamydia testing intervention in Australian general practice.
Years: 2011 - 2015
Supervisors: Prof Jane Hocking, Prof Meredith Temple Smith and Dr Christopher Fairley

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I completed a postdoc at the University of New South Wales on the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. After that, I returned home to Canada, and am currently as a Research Program Manager working at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, facilitating projects in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and STI-related cancers.

What was the best thing about your GR?

There were opportunities available that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I was part of a great team and it fostered many great international collaborations that I still have today.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Get outside and move around – great for both your mental and physical health, and for maintaining your sanity during the PhD!

Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis

Graduate Research Topic

Professional roles and relationships in health models of care: A study of insulin initiation in Australian general practice.

Years: 2012 - 2015

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I was fortunate in securing a teaching and research position at the Department of General Practice and Primary Care, hold government and RACGP roles and develop a research program on data and clinical decision support. I have recently moved to Singapore to be Co-Director of Primary Care and Family Medicine at LKC Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Supervisors and team members who treated me as an equal and actively sponsored me to travel, apply for grants and participate in related research activities and collaborations. This gave me a better understanding of what it was like to work as an academic and how I could make a contribution nationally and internationally.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Think outside your thesis. Consider your professional and personal development goals. Have an eye on what you would like your future to look like post PhD. Be proactive and take up mentor and sponsor opportunities. Enjoy life outside of the PhD!

Marianne Webb

Graduate Research Topic

Title: The design and implementation of a health and lifestyle screening app to improve the care of young people in general practice.

Years: 2013 - 2018

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I initially got a job as the Research Lead of a project at SANE Australia, developing and evaluating a digital suicide prevention campaign. After that wrapped up, I moved to Orygen (Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne) where I am currently a Research Fellow in the suicide prevention team.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The support and advice I received from GR peer group throughout my PhD was critical in enabling me to complete my PhD successfully.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

It can be hard but try not to compare yourself (project or progress) to other GR students. Everyone is on their own journey with unique, diverse challenges and timelines. Also, be sure to engage with the GR peer group as much as you can.

Jonathan Kaufman

Graduate Research Topic

Jonathan’s PhD, completed in 2020, studied diagnostic processes for young children with urinary tract infections, a very common condition encountered by clinicians across general practice, paediatrics, and emergency medicine. He developed a novel method of sample collection which is quick for clinicians and gentle for children, and used qualitative and health economic data to inform research translation.

His randomized controlled trial was published in the high-ranking medical journal The BMJ, and the new method he devised is now the recommended clinical practice in several international guidelines. Jonathan’s PhD included 9 first author publications in peer-reviewed journals, 12 national and international conference presentations, and received over 30 research awards, grants and prizes as well as the 2021 University of Melbourne Chancellors Prize.

Years: 2015 - 2020
Supervisors: Professor Lena Sanci and Professor Meredith Temple-Smith.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I’m now a General Paediatrician and Director of Clinical Training at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Western Health. I’m still doing research but more focussed on clinical work and teaching at this stage. And I have two young kids that keep me busy.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Without doubt the best thing was the support of my amazing supervisors Meredith and Lena, closely followed by the camaraderie with my writing buddies in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care, including Liz McLindon and Kylie McKenzie. I couldn’t have done it without them!

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

I have three!

  • Be curious: If you see something that is missing, doesn’t make sense or could be improved, ask why, and respectfully challenge dogma and hubris.
  • Be kind: Always be generous and support your colleagues. What’s the point of being successful if you have to trample over others to get there.
  • Be persistent: People might say it won’t work or it can’t be done. They may or may not be right. The reward comes from the sincere effort, not the result.

Anna Wood

Graduate Research Topic

Title: The role of the practice manager in general practice-based research.
Years: 2014 - 2017
Supervisors: Prof Meredith Temple-Smith and Prof Jane Hocking

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I continued working at the University of Melbourne until 2024 in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care on PATRON, a program of work in general practice, then in the Primary Care Cancer Unit on SMARTscreen and SMARTERscreen, both trials testing a SMS sent from the GP to increase the uptake of the national bowel cancer screening program. I am currently taking a career break and living in London.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The support and friendship of the group and everyone sharing their enthusiasm for research, better health outcomes and their project; this was infectious.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

There will always be difficult periods throughout the course of your study and life will get in the way, but sticking with it and doing a bit all the time will get you through.

Jason Ong

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Screening for human papillomavirus and its sequelae in men who have sex with men living with HIV.
Years: 2013 - 2016
Supervisors: Prof Christopher Fairley, Prof Meredith Temple-Smith, Prof Marcus Chen, Prof Phillip Clarke

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I went to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for my post-doc and deep-dived into the world of health economics. Since then, I have worked as a sexual health physician and am the Head of HIV/STI Economics and Health Preference Research at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.

What was the best thing about your GR?

I enjoyed the collegiality of the Department and the wonderful support (academically and psychosocially) to get me through my PhD.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Stay engaged with the various activities of the Department and contribute. The more you put in, the more you receive. Ultimately, enjoy the process - it is a wonderful 'protected' time to learn and grow.

Andre Priede

Graduate Research Topic

Oral health knowledge and behaviours amongst adults with diabetes and their healthcare professionals.

Years: 2012 -2015
Supervisors: A/Prof John Furler and A/Prof Jo Anne Manski-Nankervis.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

Embarked on a PhD and continued teaching at the Melbourne Dental School.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The encouragement and support I received as a research novice and getting out my dental profession silo.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Learn as much you can from everyone around you and most of all enjoy the experience.

Kali Godbee

Graduate Research Topic

My research was about supporting primary care practitioners to promote dementia risk reduction in Australian general practice. I developed and evaluated a practice change intervention and targeted implementation approach using frameworks and evidence from the field of implementation science.

Years: 2018 - 2023
Supervisors: Prof Jill Francis, Prof Victoria Palmer, Prof Jane Gunn,
Prof Nicola Lautenschlager.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I became a Research Fellow in the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University, and project managing the NHMRC-funded "HAPPI MIND" trial. The Holistic Approach in Primary care for Preventing Memory Impairment and Dementia (HAPPI MIND) trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two different interventions for assessing dementia risk and reducing dementia risk factors in middle-aged adults in the primary care setting.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Seeing an entire project through from start to finish.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Choose your supervisors wisely and stay focused.

Nicole Iturrieta

Graduate Research Topic

Sexual health, partner notification: "Partner Notification for syphilis in Chile: exploring health care providers’ perspectives to enhance public health service delivery."

Years: 2015 - 2019
Supervisors: Prof Meredith Temple-Smith, Prof Jane Tomnay

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I am an A/Professor at Valparaíso University, Faculty of Medicine, School of Obstetrics and Childcare and Subdirector in the Faculty of Medicine at CIISTE Interdisciplinary Territorial Research Centre, CIDI at the San Felipe campus.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Be supervised by two wonderful researchers and be part of the Department of General Practice and Primary Care. I met lovely people and friends that were my support during my PhD programme, my life in Australia and now.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Learn and use the resources available at Uni for doing your research, especially, library resources, they will be so useful for your future career.

Susan M Webster

Graduate Research Topic

My research studies explored various factors affecting health professionals in responding to the health care needs of children and young people in statutory care in Australia.
Years: 2010 - 2014
Supervisors: Prof Meredith Temple-Smith, Prof Cathy Humphreys and Dr Anne Smith

Additional Research

Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Fellow 2008
Master Primary Health Care (Research) 2009

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I completed postgraduate studies at the end of my salaried career. Honorary Research Fellowships at the University and at the Victorian Parliamentary Library have enabled me to continue my research, supervise students, undertake commissioned studies and work on knowledge translation as an academic adviser to professionals undertaking pilot and demonstration projects.

What was the best thing about your GR?

I had the great privilege of learning from one of the best graduate research supervisors in the University. I was able to answer my burning research question, thereby satisfying my original motivation. Submitting my doctoral thesis was a highlight and receiving positive feedback from the examiners brought me a lot of satisfaction. The worst thing about my doctoral study was the 12 months it took to gain multi-site ethics approvals from a range of publicly-funded health services.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

I thought my writing abilities were more than adequate before I started the doctoral thesis.  They weren’t. Working to improve my formal skills in composition and academic writing really helped me to order my thinking and shape dense information and ideas into journal articles and a coherent thesis.

Naomi Pfitzner

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Engaging fathers: Learning from Baby Makes 3' examined new fathers' engagement with respectful relationships programs delivered in health settings.
Years: 2013 - 2016
Supervisors: Prof Cathy Humphreys and Prof Kelsey Hegarty

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I've continued to conduct research on gender-based violence with a key focus on prevention and crises responses. I'm now the Deputy Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre and a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Monash University.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The friendships with other PhD students.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

If you are keen for an academic career post-PhD then try to get teaching and research work experience during your studies to increase your competitiveness for an ongoing academic role.

Naomi Pfitzner

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Engaging fathers: Learning from Baby Makes 3' examined new fathers' engagement with respectful relationships programs delivered in health settings.
Years: 2013 - 2016
Supervisors: Prof Cathy Humphreys and Prof Kelsey Hegarty

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I've continued to conduct research on gender-based violence with a key focus on prevention and crises responses. I'm now the Deputy Director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre and a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Monash University.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The friendships with other PhD students.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

If you are keen for an academic career post-PhD then try to get teaching and research work experience during your studies to increase your competitiveness for an ongoing academic role.

Dr Sandra Davidson

Graduate Research Topic

Title: The association between social connectedness and depression outcomes among primary care patients.
Years: 2006 - 2012
Supervisors: Prof. Jane Gunn and Prof. Christopher Dowrick.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

When I finished my PhD, I was fortunate to be awarded a four-year NHMRC Early Career Fellowship and I continued working with Prof Jane Gunn and the mental health team in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care. In particular, I developed a program of research on the mental health and wellbeing of men working in the taxi industry.

In 2018, I stepped away from full-time academia for family reasons. However, within a few months I found myself back working with various members of the department on consultancy projects, article writing and grant development. Over the years I have worked on some really interesting projects with the World Health Organization, various state governments, and private enterprises.

In 2023, I returned to a more permanent position at The University of Melbourne where I am currently a Senior Research Fellow in Primary Care in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. In this role, I provide support and strategic advice for primary care initiatives being undertaken across the faculty.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Doing a PhD part-time was brilliant for me and I really felt like I had a great work-life balance. I had a lot of flexibility through my children’s preschool years while simultaneously working to advance my future career prospects.

I also had two very experienced PhD supervisors who were invested in my success and actively supported my career development.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Take the time to develop your skills in critical thinking, logical reasoning, writing and communication. Having advanced skills in these areas makes all the difference when developing your project rationale, advancing your arguments and writing a 100,000-word thesis.

Tshepo Rasekaba

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Telemedicine for Gestational Diabetes.
Years: 2013 - 2018
Supervisors: A/Prof John Furler, Prof Irene Blackberry and Prof Kwang Lim.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

Academic roles: I led an evidence review for GP clinical guideline development (during my thesis exam process); Research Officer.
Project based roles: I am currently an ongoing Senior Research Fellow - health services and patient outcomes, digital health/care technology and rural ageing. I also work in the private industry sector, mainly in an advisory health tech start up.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Being part of a like-minded group of fellow GR candidates and my amazing supervisors.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

It can unravel very quickly. Early gains don’t necessarily translate into completing ahead of time but they provide credit to draw on later as you lose time. i.e. slow recruitment. Career planning starts during PhD.

Dr Kelvin Lau

Graduate Research Topic

Title: Understanding mental distress in young people from a migrant background in Australia through photo-interviewing.
Years: 2015 - 2018
Supervisors:

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I continue to work as a General Practice clinician at a Headspace youth mental health service in metropolitan Melbourne. I have also expanded upon my interest in the role of creative visual practices in mental health support. I completed a Master of Fine Arts at Photography Studies College in 2023, and have been developing cross-disciplinary projects that engage creative photo-based activities to facilitate health and wellbeing outcomes.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Having the opportunity to explore and think deeply about what ‘mental health’ means beyond the perspectives and boundaries of dominant biomedical-psychological models. It was a privilege to have the time and academic support to question the things we do in everyday clinical practice.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Be compassionate to yourself throughout the whole duration of your research. Reflect upon your motivations during the early stages of your project, consider the things that will sustain your efforts throughout the journey, and give yourself permission to spend time with things unrelated to your research.

Jenny Hayes

Graduate Research Topic

Labiaplasty – Mind the Gap. How the female genital cosmetic surgery industry has exposed gaps in medical anatomy education.
Years: 2019 - 2023
Supervisors: Professor Lena Sanci and Professor Meredith Temple-Smith.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I came to the PhD at the end of my career as a woman on a mission to evoke change in anatomy teaching and resources. I continue to teach, write and consult on the topic.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The excitement of learning a whole new skill set.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Start writing early.

Sally Marsden

Graduate Research Topic

Title: “They have their own agenda”: Women domestic violence survivors’ accounts of seeing psychologists.
Years: 2017 - 2023
Supervisors: Professor Kelsey Hegarty and Professor Cathy Humphreys.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

My degree has only just been conferred and currently I am continuing as a Research Assistant in the Department. I would like the opportunity to implement and further develop the model from my thesis so I will be working towards that.

What was the best thing about your GR?

The fabulous supportive and knowledgeable peer group of GR students. The support from my supervisors, advisory committee and others in the department through COVID and other life dramas. Being able to research a topic that I was passionate about and feel like it adds to making a difference.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Take advantage of ‘shut up and write’ sessions. They proved invaluable through my whole PhD. Even if I stared a blank sheet of paper for half the session, it got me thinking and more importantly, writing!

Kali Godbee

Graduate Research Topic

My research was about supporting primary care practitioners to promote dementia risk reduction in Australian general practice. I developed and evaluated a practice change intervention and targeted implementation approach using frameworks and evidence from the field of implementation science.

Years: 2018 - 2023
Supervisors: Prof Jill Francis, Prof Victoria Palmer, Prof Jane Gunn,
Prof Nicola Lautenschlager.

What has happened in your career since you completed your GR?

I became a Research Fellow in the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University, and project managing the NHMRC-funded "HAPPI MIND" trial. The Holistic Approach in Primary care for Preventing Memory Impairment and Dementia (HAPPI MIND) trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two different interventions for assessing dementia risk and reducing dementia risk factors in middle-aged adults in the primary care setting.

What was the best thing about your GR?

Seeing an entire project through from start to finish.

What is one piece of advice you would give to current GR students?

Choose your supervisors wisely and stay focused.