Newsletter | Issue 2 | 2025
Welcome from the Head of Department
Dear Colleagues,
Winter has definitely arrived, bringing with it our seasonal regulars: Influenza, RSV and COVID-19. Presenting the perfect opportunity for you to take part in the National OUTPOST study, which is currently recruiting people in community with acute respiratory infections within the last seven days to be monitored for post-viral symptoms. This study is investigating the pattern of Long COVID in our current infection period compared to the peak of the pandemic, looking at the proportion of people who develop Long COVID and hoping to shed some light on the types of Long COVID emerging in Australia today. You get free RATs that test for COVID, Flu and RSV and $110 in vouchers when you complete the study. There - I’ve made my sales pitch – it’s now up to you!
It is with great admiration and heartfelt appreciation that we farewell Professor Jon Emery. Since joining the Department in 2013 as the inaugural Herman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research, Jon has been a driving force behind some of the most significant advances in primary care cancer research in Australia and internationally. As a colleague and collaborator over the last decade, I have witnessed first-hand his exceptional leadership, strategic vision and deep commitment to improving cancer outcomes through primary care. From founding the Cancer Australia PC4 clinical trials group to spearheading major initiatives like the VCCC Data Connect program and the national PARTNER rural and remote research network, Jon’s contributions have fundamentally shaped the way we understand and act on cancer diagnosis and care in general practice.
Jon is one of the best primary care researchers in Australia. His work has informed national and international guidelines, transformed models of cancer care and supported countless clinicians and researchers. His leadership of our Primary Care Trials Unit and service on numerous national committees speaks to both the breadth of his expertise and the esteem in which he is held. Perhaps most importantly, Jon has always led with humility, integrity and generosity—mentoring a new generation of researchers and leaving an enduring legacy of excellence. While we are proud to see him take up the visiting professorship at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore, his presence in our Department will be deeply missed. We extend our warmest congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Jon for all that he has contributed and wish him all the very best in his new role.
On a happier note, I would now like to welcome A/Prof Carolyn Ee as the new Director of the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical trials group. Carolyn is an academic GP and an A/Professor in Cancer Survivorship and Primary Care at the Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University. Her work focuses on creating and evaluating models of cancer survivorship that optimise patient outcomes and prioritise their wellbeing. I am thrilled that Carolyn is joining the team and look forward to working together.
Our Annual Awards Night was held on 13 May at the Woodward Conference Centre celebrating excellence in general practice teaching, research and student achievement. This year’s event featured a dynamic panel session facilitated by A/Prof Caroline Johnson on the shift towards multidisciplinary, team-based models of care and asked the question “Are we ready?”. Panel guests, Prof Tina Brock from the Collaborative Practice Centre, Dr Simon Benson from Bupa and Peter Breadon from the Grattan Institute took us through the benefits, obstacles, implications, funding considerations and lessons learned from the UK experience. Such an interesting discussion that sparked a great deal of questions and clearly a topic on many minds. Congratulations to all our award winners and graduate research completions.
Further congratulations go to our recent PhD graduate Dr Amita Tuteja, who has been awarded the 2025 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Award for her PhD research into developing culturally sensitive consent processes and best practice resources for GPs working with interpreters in refugee communities. Fantastic work Amita!
For those of you working in or around the city, you may be interested in visiting the State Library’s new exhibition “Make Believe: Encounters with Misinformation”. The exhibition features the incredibly important works of Dr Jenny Hayes, Prof Helen O’Connell and Anita Brown-Major that have helped to correct centuries old misrepresentations of female genitalia in medical literature. Jenny’s PhD revealed the concerning trend among young women requesting cosmetic surgery to ‘normalise’ their vulva based on social media misinformation. Thanks to her research, the next edition of Gray’s Anatomy will be updated to reflect the reality that while similar, all bodies are different. It truly is a fascinating exhibition.
Other articles in this issue include a new approach for treating bacterial vaginosis, an update to the therapeutic guidelines for antibiotics, how Patron keeps your data safe from cyber-attacks and many more. Happy reading.
Warm regards,
Lena