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Issue #82 August 2009The DEPM eNews is issued monthly, in pdf format with images. Each month's feature article on research can be accessed either through the pdf or its own link below. Please send any comments and/or items for inclusion in future issues to: depmnews@med.monash.edu.au Contents
SPHPM eNews 4 August 2009SPHPM eNews 4 August 2009 features SPHPM news for July 2009. Download eNews pdf (725 kb) for complete, illustrated issue, attached below.Attached Files: 090803-sphpm-enews.pdf 704 KiloBytes | Contents | Honours 2010Honours opportunities have been increased from 2008 by the creation of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, which now combines the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Social Science, the Centre for Obesity Research and Education, the Monash Institute of Health Services Research and the Department of Forensic Medicine. The program offers a career path into many areas of public health and clinical research.Contact: Dr Anna Peeters +61 (0)3 9903 0177 E-mail anna.peeters@med.monash.edu.au | Contents | Clinical trial participation – making waves in the liverI (Julia Veitch) participated in a clinical trial (my second in DEPM – the first was Carolina Weller’s sub-pressure bandaging study), which was having my liver Fibro-scanned. Visiting academic, Dr Pornwalee Porapakkham, from Thailand, has been organising the study under the supervision of Prof Henry Krum, looking at the liver health of heart patients. Heart patients often have sick livers, and if liver problems are identified early, patients can be given appropriate advice and treatment.I was part of the control group of healthy participants. A liver specialist in the Alfred did an ultrasound (a painless, non-invasive process) of my liver. He explained that it’s a bit like seismology. If you have a healthy liver, it’s more fluid and less stiff than a sick, scarred liver, and will conduct the waves more slowly. I was pleased to find out that my liver is very healthy. Pornwalee, with her husband Pramote, also a visiting academic in DEPM, return to Thailand in a month’s time. For further information about the study email Pornwalee.Porapakkham@med.monash.edu.au | Contents | Awards, Prizes, Promotions, HonoursDr Deborah Zion, of the Human Rights and Bioethics Unit, DEPM, has been invited to serve on the editorial board of the Cambridge Dictionary of Bioethics (CDB). The CDB is, in its editors’ words, comprehensive, international, concise and authoritative.| Contents | Profile: A/Prof Allen ChengA/Prof Allen Cheng (MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD)is an infectious diseases physician. He joined the infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit (DEPM) in April 2009. He has previously worked as a infectious diseases and general physician in Darwin and Geelong, and has had worked in remote communities in the Top End of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, the United States and Finland.During his doctoral work (2002-05), which focused on the epidemiology and management of melioidosis, he was involved in work in diverse areas of study including the use of geographical information systems, the analysis of molecular typing data and, the use of laboratory models of infection as well as clinical trials and diagnostics. Work performed during his doctoral studies defined the association of melioidosis with severe weather events, the population structure of the causative organism Burkholderia pseudomallei, the role of diagnostics and risk stratification tools and the role of G-CSF in the management of severe sepsis in two clinical trials in Australia and Thailand. His research interests include clinical infectious diseases, mathematical modelling and applied biostatistics, molecular epidemiology and clinical management of sepsis. He has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented over 60 abstracts at local, national and international meetings. Allen is also a member of the editorial board of the Acute Respiratory Infections Group of the Cochrane Collaboration and is a member of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases Clinical Guidelines Committee. He completed a Masters in Public Health (2008) during which he was awarded the VicHealth Prize for Public Health Policy. His work in sepsis management has resulted in participation in World Health Organisation initiatives, including the Integrated Management of Adult and Adolescent Illness Clinical Manual and the Epidemic Alert and Response Clinical Network. | Contents | Successful grant applications
Prof Michael Abramson is a coinvestigator on a successful grant from the LEW Carty Foundation, titled “The impact of indoor allergen exposure on asthma exacerbations in children and adolescents”. The grant will be administered by La Trobe University, where the principal investigator Bircan Erbas is located. Investigators are: Erbas B, Abramson M, Dharmage S, Taylor P, Tang MLK, Allen K. | Contents | PhD newsRecently startedDr Conor Deasy, fresh from Ireland, is an emergency physician. He started in DEPM on 30 June 2009, supervised by Prof Peter Cameron. His topic is “Cardiac arrest - addressing the gaps in our scientific knowledge”. He is looking particularly at the role of hypothermia for treatment of cardiac arrest patients. Submission Elizabeth Barr, supervised by Prof Andrew Tonkin, has submitted her doctoral thesis The contribution of impaired glucose metabolism to cardiovascular disease and to mortality in Australians. | Contents | Course, conference, symposium reportsInternational Health Economists Association (IHEA)DEPM Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Dr Kathryn Antioch, presented at several sessions of the International Health Economists Association (IHEA), China in July 2009 regarding her proposed national reforms considered by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), all Federal and State Health Ministers and Treasurers, Federal Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation. The reforms addressed integrating economic and clinical evidence, guidelines and equity into national regulation and financing reforms for the new National Health Care Agreements. The focus was on risk adjustment in financing, along with mechanisms to implement Evidence Based Medicine initiatives Australia-wide. She also presented at the Guidelines and Economists Network International (GENI) Satellite Session of IHEA on the Masterplan and strategies of GENI to address the Global Financial Crisis. See GENI sessions Copies of her reform papers, including a response from the NT Health Minster on the risk adjustment reforms had been forwarded to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC) and included on the Commission's website with the permission of the Federal Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the NT Health Minister. Her reform papers are at www.nhhrc.org.au Amanda Zatta, Peter Cameron et al have received correspondence that their submitted abstract has been accepted for an oral presentation at the Fifth Mediterranean Emergency Congress in September. The abstract is entitled “Entering the Triad of Death and the Concept of Futility in the Use of Recombinant Activated Factor VII” A/Prof Bebe Loff was recently in China to consult to the Chinese government about setting up a national Chinese clinical trial register. World Congress of Health Economics Zanfina Ademi presented at the World Congress of Health Economics, held in Beijing (12-15) of July, 2009. She presented about “Economic implication of atherothrombosis in community”. The congress covered a range of topics from life style to communicable disease. Diverse range of risk prediction models from health financing, private insurance, chronic disease, and life style. It was well attended from all around the world. There were around 15 participants from Monash University. Monash Certificate in Clinical Occupational Medicine a success Twenty medical practitioners recently attended the first Monash Certificate in Clinical Occupational Medicine, held at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists on St Kilda Rd in Melbourne, 22-26 June 2009. Dr David Fish and Prof Malcolm Sim of the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (MonCOEH) coordinated the course, and experts across a range of relevant disciplines, from psychiatry and neurology to dermatology, rehabilitation and return to work made presentations and led practical sessions. The course was designed to provide medical practitioners with the knowledge and skills to diagnose and manage common occupational injuries & diseases, document and investigate complex problems in occupational medicine, perform a medical assessment, write a medicolegal report, and to facilitate workplace health promotion. Most of the attendees were from around Australia, but there were also physicians from New Zealand and Singapore in attendance. Many were members or trainees of the Australian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) and the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The course was well received, as this feedback from a Sydney-based attendee shows: “All the speakers were of the highest quality…I am sure that I speak for all those who were present in saying that we appreciated all the effort…I would recommend the course for all AFOEM trainees and for any Occupational Medicine Practitioner who wants to update their knowledge and examination skills.”/ MonCOEH plans to run the course again in 2010. Visit: MonCOEH | Contents | New Publications - JulyThis section in the pdf download from first item lists publication citations in alpha order by first author. The enews notification is not a complete list as the School averages about 25 publications per month. If yours is not listed, check the DEPM website, at 2009 DEPM Publications page| Contents | Media mentionsBiostatistics Unit featured in The Age 19/06/2009, p.5 Postgraduate Opportunities section. DEPM report on HIV cited in The Australian article “No strategy to combat HIV rate”. 04/07/2009 www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25725468-23289,00.htmlA study co-authored by A/Prof Chris Reid involving approximately 18,000 diabetes patients has shown while most at-risk patients appeared to have been started on appropriate treatments, there was a high degree of ‘therapeutic inertia’ because treatment had not been intensified to achieve treatment goals and only 20% were achieving their BP targets. 07/07/2009 http://www.6minutes.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=489508 Prof Just Stoelwinder, DEPM and Dr Francesco Paolucci ANU believe Australians should be able to receive Medicare-type benefits directly from the private health fund of their choice. 06/07/2009 http://www.medindia.net/news/Dutch-Style-System-Would-Make-Health-Funds-Compete-For-Medicare-Funding-54173-1.htm Prof Peter Cameron, DEPM, and a number of co-authors published research in the Medical Journal of Australia which suggests the lessons learned in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 must be used to further strengthen the State’s prevention and medical response systems. 06/07/2009 http://www.medindia.net/news/Health-System-Lessons-From-Black-Saturday-Bushfires-54174-2.htm Dr Belinda Lewis (pictured left with Jeff Lewis, co-author of the book, at Udayana University, Bali, presenting the book to the Director of Bali TV/Bali Post newspaper,Satria Naradha), DHSS had coverage in Indonesian media for her recently published book, Bali’s Silent Crisis: Front page story on Bali Post newspaper(largest in Bali) (scan and photos); Article in JawaPos newspaper (circulation in the millions); Bali TV 6.30 news coverage/interview on 2nd-top story after Indonesian> election results (vid file avail) Prof Joan Ozanne-Smith, DoFM, says research from MUARC has revealed that older people are anxious about entrusting contractors to do household jobs for them and they do not wish to impose on their own families to help. p.18 27/07/2009 Herald Sun. Dr Charles Livingstone, DHSS, estimates the Government will reap $2.9 billion when pubs and clubs bid to own and operate pokies from 2012. 26/07/2009 The Age, www.theage.com.au/national/brumby-to-pick-up-3bn-pokie-prize-20090725-dwvz.html Prof Joan Ozanne-Smith, DoFM, states that the UNICEF World Report on Child Injury Prevention lists Australia as one of the countries with the lowest incidence of child injury, but still points out shortfalls, particularly pertaining to Indigenous children. 27/07/2009 Abc.net.au, ABC 612 Brisbane, Triple J (Melbourne), ABC 720 Perth, ABC 774 Melbourne http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/27/2637116.htm?section=australia17HealthMatters:Children'sSleepHabitsPosted:4:00PMJul27 Prof Just Stoelwinder, DEPM, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences says rolling payments into a single Medicare Select income tax would make healthcare costs more transparent, manageable and sustainable. 29/07/2009 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25850843-5013404,00.html Prof Brian Oldenburg, DEPM, discusses free community health forums in Parramatta on 12 and 13 August. 29/07/2009 Parramatta Advertiser p.79 Mr Cameron Gosling et al, DEPM, research on heat stroke in triathlons asking why some people become seriously ill while exercising in hot weather and others don't. 29/07/2009 New York Times http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/how-to-avoid-heatstroke/?emc=eta1 Ms Nadine Andrew, PhD student, DEPM, has co-authored a study which found that riding motorbikes, horses and bicycles are Victoria's riskiest sports, causing dozens of major trauma cases each year (218 across 6 years).
A/Prof Wendy Brown, CORE, says about one in four of their 5000 lap-band patients have gone on to have plastic surgery after weight loss. 02/08/2009 The Age, http://www.theage.com.au/national/newly-thin-not-feeling-good-inside-their-skin-20090801-e58y.html Dr Leslie Cannold, MIHSR, on live tissue donation. 02/08/2009 The Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au/opinion/when-giving-cuts-right-to-the-bone-20090802-e5by.html | Contents | Snippets: Conspiracy theories, secrets, lies and vegetarianismIn peer-reviewed published studies, plant based diets have been shown to reverse diabetes, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and various common ailments, among other diseases – why isn’t diet recognised and recommended for treatment of chronic diseases? The answer, you perhaps won’t be surprised to learn, is the giant industrial complex of food and drug production protecting its interests... web link| Contents | SPHPM short courses 20092009 Short Course registrations now open13-14 Aug Introduction to systematic reviews of interventions Miranda Cumpston 19-21 Oct Intervention Mapping (IM): Developing theory- and evidence-based programs for health promotion and public health Prof Guy Parcel 12-23 Oct 2009 Monash Spring School for Public Health and Clinical Research: A two week program including courses on Public Health Updates and Clinical Research Bookmark & browse our web page www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/shortcrs/ or contact shortcourses.depm@med.monash.edu.au for further information. | Contents | SPHPM & other seminarsSPHPM seminars are held in the DEPM seminar room on Wednesdays from 12-1 pm unless otherwise noted. A reminder will go out about DEPM seminars on the morning of the day they are to be given. The seminar program is at Events. The weekly AMREP seminar listings are emailed by Liana Friedman to all Alfred based staff. Various other seminars which involve DEPM people are also listed. See details in pdf download from Item 1 of this enews.05-Aug-09 12-1 pm DEPM Seminar Room 315, Dr Claire Harris, MIHSR, Evidence-based decision-making 17-Aug-09 Patient Consent and Blood Transfusion Registration 10am for 10.30am - 3.30pm Charles LaTrobe Lecture Theatre, Royal Melbourne Hospital - Function and Convention Centre Registration fee: $50.00 Faculty workshops in media and writing - August and September Dates and times: The Alfred Good writing: Tuesday 25 August, 10am-11am. Introduction to media: Tuesday 25 August, 11am-12pm. Venue: Medical Lecture Theatre, Ground floor, Old Medical School, AMREP Campus, Commercial Road. RSVP to julia.veitch@med.monash.edu.au. Monash Medical Centre Good writing: Wednesday 26 August, 10am-11am. Introduction to media: Wednesday 26 August, 11am-12pm. Venue: Medicine Seminar Room, Level 5, Block E, 246 Clayton Road. Clayton Introduction to media: Wednesday 26 August, 1pm - 2pm Venue: Building 11 (Menzies Building), room SG01. Good writing: Thursday 27 August, 1pm - 2pm Venue: Building 13D, M1 lecture theatre. RSVP to alexandra.roginski@med.monash.edu.au. Notting Hill Introduction to media: Wednesday 16 September, 1.30pm-2.30pm. Good writing: Wednesday 30 September, 1pm-2pm. Venue: Room 4, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road RSVP to anna.chapman@med.monash.edu.au. Peninsula and Gippsland Register your interest for either campus with Alex at alexandra.roginski@med.monash.edu.au. External seminars 05-Aug-09 Public Health Emergencies Seminar Wednesday 5 August 2009, 8.30am-1pm, Monash Medical School, Alfred Hospital $250 Full fee, including GST (Discounts apply) http://www.med.monash.edu.au/cehpp/ For further Information Dr Caroline Spencer Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice Tel: +61 3 9904 4092 Email: caroline.spencer@med.monash.edu.au Monash Disaster Health Forums from 5 Aug – 13 Nov 2009 – various dates. See www.med.monash.edu.au/cehpp/ Weight Watchers WW@W information session to be held at Baker IDI 12 noon, 7th floor meeting room on Thursday 6 August. RSVP to Terry Schroeder, Human Resources, Baker IDI terry.schroeder@bakeridi.edu.au 03 8532 1575 | Contents | Career Opportunities in Public HealthSee full details in pdf download from Item 1.Research Fellow (Level A) - Citizen engagement in Australia’s health system and prevention Contact: Dr Catherine Joyce at Monash University on (03) 9903 0536 or catherine.joyce@med.monash.edu.au Deadline: August 10 2009. New research fellowships in clinical & public health sciences in SPHPM. We are looking for people with either strong backgrounds in mathematics and statistics, or recently completed doctorates in biological sciences. See download Casual Research Assistant Position Enquiries: A/Prof Ben Smith at ben.smith@med.monash.edu.au or phone +61 3 9903 1654. Research Positions with the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Monash University Biostatistician, Research Fellow, Research Assistant, PhD students wanted at the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (MonCOEH), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria. Download detail: ResearchPositionsMonash.pdf Health Promotion opportunities
Table facilitators wanted for a deliberative forum in Melbourne. The Australian Institute of Health Policy Studies (AIHPS) is organising a member forum on behalf of Australian Unity – on Friday 21 Aug 2009, 9:30am to 3:30pm. AIHPS is looking for people to be involved as table facilitators. Contact: Rebecca Watson by email at info@aihps.org or phone 0408864482. The Australian Institute of Health Policy Studies is based at Monash University, and is an alliance of partner universities and some health jurisdictions. | Contents | Items for the DEPM News are due The DEPM eNews is issued monthly, in pdf format with images. Each month's feature article on research can be accessed either through the pdf or its own link below.. Please send any comments and/or items for inclusion in future issues to: depmnews@med.monash.edu.au |