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DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY& PREVENTIVE MEDICINEANNUALREPORT2001
About the departmentThe Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM) was established in1969 at the Monash University Medical School - Alfred Hospital, and is now located at553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, with easy access to Monash Medical School and theAlfred Hospital.DEPM continues to play a prominent role in public health medicine in Australia. Thecore skills of the department relate to epidemiology (the study of the distribution, riskfactors and causes of disease) and its application to problems in clinical medicine andpublic health.A number of trends in public health and health care funding have led to an increaseddemand for these specialist skills. These trends include an emphasis on appliedclinical research to provide evidence of effectiveness of medical interventions; a rapidincrease in provision of health related data driven by the need for financial accountabilityand quality assurance; a growing emphasis and financial incentives for prevention ofillness; an increased focus on measuring the quality of health care; and an increasedconcern about legal liability which requires identification of long term hazards of medicalinterventions.Financial support for research in DEPM is drawn from a variety of State and FederalGovernment bodies, private companies and charitable organisations primarily in theform of competitive grants. DEPM ranks among the most successful Monash Universitydepartments in attracting external research funding. We also undertake contractresearch and consultancies for a wide range of industry bodies and governmentdepartments, and are partners in the Australian Government Cooperative ResearchCentre Program.We have an extensive teaching program including undergraduate medical andbiomedical science degrees, postgraduate courses including the Master of PublicHealth, a range of Diplomas and Certificates, and several short courses.We also provide high quality PhD research training to graduates from a broad spectrumof medical and non-medical backgrounds. Epidemiology (together with Biostatistics)is the key scientific discipline underlying some of the most important and rapidlydeveloping areas in medicine, and our PhD graduates are equipped with core skillswhich form the basis for a successful future career in a range of fields.
How to find usThe Department is located conveniently close to The Alfred Hospitaland is easily accessible by public transport from the city.dRoaildaSt KrnebouMelCommercial RoadALFREDHOSPITAL553Moubray StDEPM is hereGreville Street ToPunt RoadTrams run from Flinders Street Station south along St Kilda Road numbers 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 to Moubray Street. Trains run from FlindersStreet to Prahran Station (Sandringham line), with just a short walk toSt Kilda Road. We are on Melway map 58, 2L B9 and metered carparking is available on St Kilda Road or Moubray Street.Prahran Railway Station(Sandringhqam Line fromFlinders Street)
How to contact usGeneral enquiriesPhone 61 3 9903 0555Fax 61 3 9903 0556Address mail toThe Department of Epidemiology & Preventive MedicineCentral & Eastern Clinical School, Alfred HospitalCommercial Road, Melbourne 3004Victoria, AustraliaDeliveries3rd floor 553 St Kilda RoadMelbourneAshley Ricketson Centre260-294 Kooyong RoadCaulfieldHead of DepartmentProfessor John McNeilPhone 61 3 9903 0565Fax 61 3 9903 0050john.mcneil@med.monash.edu.auPostgraduate course informationPhone 61 3 9903 0563pgradenq@med.monash.edu.auShort course informationPhone 61 3 9903 0588shortcrs@med.monash.edu.auBiostatistical Consulting ServicePhone 61 3 9903 0594biostats.consult@med.monash.edu.auContact details for individual research units can be found on the page for that unit.Visit our website at www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology
Highlights of 2001David Goddard was the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Awardfor Distinguished Teaching. David was nominated by a group offifth year medical undergraduates and presented with his awardat the Faculty Graduation ceremony in December. Davidteaches undergraduate medical students with enthusiasm andpassion and everyone at DEPM congratulated David on therecognition of the effort he puts in to make learning enjoyable.DEPM became a partner in the newly established Australian Centre for Human Health Risk Assessment(ACHHRA), a consortium of Monash University, University of Queensland, Griffith University and FlindersUniversity. The centre will address research, training and advisory needs resulting from health risks inAustralia, with an emphasis on the health impact of environmental hazards, and is funded by the PublicHealth Education and Research Program. The Director of ACHHRA will be based in DEPM.In January, the Federal Government announced it would provide 16.7 million over seven years to fundAustralia’s National Drinking Water Research Organisation, the Cooperative Research Centre for WaterQuality and Treatment, until 2008. DEPM is a partner in the CRC, a joint venture between thirtyparticipants from industry, research and governments from every State and Territory in Australia. InFebruary, John McNeil and Martha Sinclair attended a planning meeting of the new ManagementCommittee in Adelaide.Brent Robertson, a PhD student in DEPM, won the 2001 GJ Rouch Prize awarded by the VictorianBranch of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health. The prize is awarded annually to the advancedtraining candidate in public health medicine who gives the best presentation of research work at ameeting of the Faculty. Brent presented his PhD work on “Case-control studies of sporadiccryptosporidiosis in Melbourne and Adelaide”.In October, the Department was visited by the Honorable Minister of Health for Indonesia, Dr AchmadSujudi; the Director General of Medical Care, Prof Dr HMusjtahid Achmad Djojosugiti, Mr Jafar Husein, Dept ofForeign Affairs, Jakarta, and Mr Ryadi Asirdin, the IndonesianConsulate General, Melbourne. DEPM has been involved intraining Indonesian Master of Health Services Managementstudents over the past couple ofyears under an AsianDevelopment Bank contract and we look forward to continuingour educational involvement with Indonesia. Prof Dr Djojosugitialso visited the Department in June, with Dr IGPWiadnyana,Project Manager for the Asian Development BankIII Project, Dr Kuswartini, Head of Personnel, and A/Prof PhilipStokoe.The Department was admitted as a Board Member to the Asian Pacific Academic Consortium for PublicHealth, which has representatives from seventeen countries in the Asia-Pacific region with the aim topromote public health in the region. Malcolm Sim attended a Board meeting in Seoul in April.A/Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, along with colleagues Dr Damien Jolley and Dr Mary Wyatt, were awardedthe Volvo Award for their evaluation of the Victorian WorkCover Authority Public Health Campaign aboutback pain. This prestigious annual award in the area of spinal research is awarded by the Volvo Companyof Sweden. Rachelle travelled to Edinburgh in June to present this paper and receive the award.In July, the Department farewelled fourteen Indonesian students who completed the requirements of theMaster of Health Services Management Program. The Department was presented with an Indonesianwall hanging.
Staff in 2001Professor & Head of DepartmentJohn McNeil, Professor MBBS, MSc, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHMAssociate ProfessorsMichael Abramson MBBS(Hons), BMedSc, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHMRachelle Buchbinder MBBS(Hons), MSC, FRACPFlavia Cicuttini MBBS(Hons), MSc, DHTM, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHMAndrew Forbes BSc(Hons), MSc, PhDHenry Krum, MBBS, PhD, FRACPMalcolm Sim, BMedSc, MBBS, MSc, GDipOccHyg, PhD, FAFOM, FFOM, FAFPHM,Senior Lecturers/Senior Research FellowsEsther Briganti MBBS, GDipClinEpi, FRACP. Senior LecturerLisa Demos BPharm, GDipHospPharm, PhD David Elder MBChB, DGM, MRCGP,GradDipOccHlth, MPH, FAFOM.David Fish MBBS, FAFOM, FAFPHMDavid Goddard BMedSc, MBBS, DOH, FAFOM, MFOMMargaret Hellard MBBS, FRACP.Bruce Hocking MBBS, FRACGP, FAFOMJoe Ibrahim MBBS, FRACP, MHA, PhD.Karin Leder MBBS(Hons), FRACP, MPHSandy Leggat BSc(Hons), MBA, MHS, PhDJenny Majoor MBBS, MHA, FRACMA, PhDDavid Newman MBBS, Dip Av Med, PhD.Vasuki Prahbaharan BScm GradDipStats, MASMartha Sinclair BSc(Hons), PhDVijaya Sundararajan Dr BA, MD, MPHDavid Taylor Dr MD, DRCOG, MPH, FACEMTheo Vos MD, MSc.Mark Wahlqvist BMedSci, MD, BS(Adelaide), MD(Uppsala), FAIFST, FACN, FAPHMLecturers / Research FellowsEmma Ashton BAppSc, PhDGeza Benke BSc MAppSci GDipQuanMeth, FAIOHLisa Collins BAppSc, PhDDeborah Glass BA(Hons), CertEd, MSc, PhDJill Ikin BA(Psych) GradDipBHlthHaida Luke BPsych, MEd(Psych), PhDDean McKenzie Mr, BA, MScDianna Magliano BAppSc(Hons), PhDKath Ogden MBBS, FRACGPGayle Savige DipTeach, BSc, GDipDiet, PhDSamantha Rizak BA, BSc, MScRosalie Woods BSc, GDipDietetics, MPH, PhD
Staff in 2001 continuedResearch AssistantsLeonie Hughes BSc(Chem)Hons, BSc(Biotech), MScPam Lightbody BScJulianna O’Keeffe BSc, GDipEdSonya Ristevski BSc(Hons)Marina Skiba BEdResearch NursesJane Brack BappSc(Nursing)Christine Dos Santos BHlthScRobyn Funston RNJudy Hankin BA(Psych)RNLinton Harris RN, DipAppSc(Nursing)Tegan James BA(Hons), RNFiona Savio BSc(Nursing), GradDipClinEpiJudy Snaddon BA, SRN, SRMJessika Willis BSc, GDipHumServRes, RPNComputer Systems OfficerColin FeeAdministrative StaffNatalie AnderieszCarolyn BarrieRhonda Blaich BEdJohn ChelliahSandra CherryMarilyn Cowie RNMandy Hipwell BAEmma KaneSonya McKeown BA(Hons)Doris Toh Bcomm, MIntBusAdminMaida O’KeefePhyllis ToparlanisSevim ZongurPostgraduate scholarsZahid Ansari MBBS, FAFPHM, MSc, MPHChristopher Barton BSc, MMedScStephen Begg BA(Hons), MPHRebecca Braham BSc(Hons)Jim Black, MBBS(Hons) DTM&H, MCommHRochelle Eime BappSc(Hons)Mike Glisson MAppSci, DAppSci (Med Rad), DqualSteven Haas Bpharm, BpharmSc(Hons)Andrew Haydon MBBS, FRACPHelen Kelsall MB BS, MPH, MhealthSc, FAFPHMAnthony Kwok GdipPhysio, GDipHlthAdmin, MHADanny Liew BMedSc, MBBS, FRACPStephen Lim BSc(Hons)Bebe Loff MA(Lond), BA, LLBCaroline Marshall MBBS, GDipClinEpi, FRACPMelanie Matheson MAppSc, BSc.Alastair Meyer BSc(Hons), BMedSc, MBBS, FACEMMark Nelson MBBS, GDipFamMed, MFamMedAlex Padiglione MBBS, FRACPAnne-Marie Pellizzer MBBS, FRACPLouise Prentice MBBS, FRACPBrent Robertson MBBSKaren Smith BSc(Hons), GDipEpi&BiostatHugo Stephenson BSc, MBBSRhonda Stuart MBBS FRACPRwth Stuckey BappSc, GradDipErgonomics, MPHAnita Wluka MBBS, Dip Int Med, FRACPBoheng Zhang MBBS, MMedResearch nurses from leftJane Brack, Robyn Funston, Judy Snaddon andChristine Dos SantosFrom leftSevim Zongur, Pam Lightbody, Sam RizakChristine Dos Santos, Phyllis Toparlanisand (front) Jane
Research at DEPMResearch in the Department covers a wide range of specialist areas, and the Department isorganised into individual research units with their own specialist staff. Aviation Medicine UnitBiostatistics Unit Diagnostics UnitClinical Epidemiology Unit Clinical Measurement Unit. (In collaboration with Cabrini Hospital)Clinical Pharmacology Unit CRC for Water Quality and TreatmentEpidemiological Modelling Unit. Health Services Management & Research UnitInfectious Disease Epidemiology Unit International Health & Development Unit. (In collaboration with the AsiaPacific Health & Nutrition Centre, Monash) Occupational & Environmental Health UnitPreventive Medicine Unit Trauma and Sports Injury Epidemiology UnitThese units often work in collaboration,bringing several specialist skills to research projects asthey are needed. Research in the Department covers areas such as Applied clinical researchCardiovascular diseaseClinical epidemiologyClinical preventive medicineDiagnosticsDrug evaluationDrug safety monitoringEnvironmental toxicologyEpidemiological modellingEvidence based medicineHealth managementHealth promotionHealth services researchInfectious disease epidemiologyInformation technologyNutritionOccupational healthOutbreak csWater quality
Biostatistics UnitHead of UnitA/Prof Andrew Forbes, BSc(Hons),MSc,PhDPhone 03 9903 30580, email andrew.forbes@med.monash.edu.auThe Biostatistics Unit plays a critical role in the research endeavours ofthe Department. Staff of the Unit hold chief investigator and/or associateinvestigator status on many of the Department's research projects andmake substantial contributions to the design, data collection, and analysisof these projects. The Unit also contributes to many epidemiologicalprojects of external research groups and institutes. Staff pursue ongoingmethodological research, in particular on the analysis of ordinal outcomes,analysis of longitudinal studies, the use of hierarchical regression modelsapplied to institutional ranking, and in statistical computing.Andrew Forbes heads theBiostatistics Unit whichconsists of 5 biostatisticians.He received a BSc (Hons) inStatistics from MonashUniversity in 1984, and a PhDin Statistics in 1990 fromCornell University, USA. Heworked at Ciba-GeigyPharmaceuticals USA, as apostdoctoral fellow developingclinical trial methodology priorto joining Monash University.The unit teaches applied biostatistics to medical and biomedical scienceundergraduate students, and students enrolled in the various postgraduatecourses in health and clinical research in the Department. The Unit isalso involved, along with other national centres of biostatistics, in teachinga new Masters in Biostatistics course by distance education.Biostatistical Consulting ServicesOver recent years, there has been a major increase in demand forbiostatistical support from many sectors of the health system. This is inpart due to the increasing complexity of study design, increasingawareness of the need for modern statistical analysis methods, and themore rigorous demands of peer-reviewed journals and granting bodies interms of the use of statistics.This service aims to facilitate access to appropriate and modern statisticalmethods in health research; offer specialist services in the areas ofepidemiological, clinical and biomedical data analysis and provide trainingin the application of statistical methods for health researchers.For enquiries email biostats.consult@med.monash.edu.au or go towww.med.monash.edu.au., phone (03) 9903 0991, fax (03) 9903 0556
Clinical Epidemiology UnitHead of UnitA/Prof Michael Abramson MBBS(Hons), BMedSc, PhD, FRACP,FAFPHM.Michael’s administrative responsibilities include a GrantReview Panel of the NH&MRC. He has previously heldpositions in the Thoracic Society of Australia & NewZealand, Asthma Foundation of Victoria and the NationalAsthma Campaign. He is a member of the ScientificCommittee for the International Society for EnvironmentalEpidemiology conference to be held in Perth in 2003.Michael Abramson is alsoDeputy Head of the Departmentand a visiting specialistphysician in respiratorymedicine at the Alfred Hospitalin Melbourne. He graduated inMedicine from Monash in 1979and received his PhD from theUniversity of Newcastle in 1990for research into occupationalasthma.Current research in this Unit covers the epidemiology ofasthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, includinggenetic and environmental risk factors, asthma mortality,patient education and adherence to asthma managementplans. This work has been supported by the NationalHealth & Medical Research Council, Department ofHuman Services, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation,Australian Lung Foundation and the Asthma Foundationof Victoria.The Unit is actively involved in the Cochrane Collaboration- an international effort to review and disseminate evidenceof effective treatments. Members have contributed anumber of systematic reviews to the Cochrane Library.Members of the Unit currently teach Epidemiology andEvidence Based Medicine to medical students andcoordinate the Graduate Diploma and Master of ClinicalEpidemiology and Doctor of Public Health at MonashUniversity.
Clinical Measurement UnitIn collaboration with Cabrini HospitalHead of UnitA/Prof Rachelle Buchbinder MBBS(Hons), MSC, FRACPPhone 03 9509 1652, email rachelle.buchbinder@med.monash.du.auCurrent research programs at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology atCabrini Hospital cover a wide range of initiatives primarily concerningmusculoskeletal disorders.Rachelle Buchbinder is a practicingrheumatologist and clinicalepidemiologist. She is the Directorof the Department of ClinicalEpidemiology at Cabrini Hospital.Rachelle graduated in Medicinefrom Monash University in 1981 andreceived a Masters of Science inClinical Epidemiology from theUniversity of Toronto in 1993.Staff in 2001Dr Jan Lucas Hoving PostDoctoral Research FellowCorry Garamszegi (Cabrini)Research Assistant/RNLyn Oldham (Cabrini)Administrative OfficerThe Australian Rheumatoid Arthritis Database, which aims to collectlongitudinal data on outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis in Australia, hascommenced pilot studies. The database will be housed at Cabrini Hospitaland co-members on the research committee include A/Prof Lyn March andDr. Marissa Lassere. An NHMRC funded clinical trial is investigating the valueof physiotherapy post-hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder. Other trials ofinnovative new therapies for soft tissue disorders of the shoulder, elbow, knee,heel are also underway and/or nearing completion.Other projects include estimating risk of malignancy in rheumatic diseases,magnetic resonance imaging in rheumatoid arthritis, quality of life, patienteducation, complementary medicine and outcome measurement. Her workhas been supported by various local, national and international bodies.Rachelle currently coordinates and teaches the postgraduate courses inClinical Epidemiology and Measurement. She also supervises BMedSci, MPHand PhD students.
Clinical Pharmacology UnitHead of UnitA/Prof Henry Krum MBBS, PhD, FRACPPhone 03 9903 0042, email henry.krum@med.monash.edu.auHenry Krum completed his MBBS atthe University of Melbourne in 1981,became a Fellow of the RoyalAustralasian College of Physiciansin 1989 and completed a PhD at theUniversity of Melbourne in 1991. Aswell as head of this unit, Henry isHead of Clinical Pharmacology at theAlfred Hospital, Adjunct AssistantProfessor of Medicine, Division ofCirculatory Physiology at ColumbiaUniversity College of Physicians andSurgeons, and consultant physicianThe research activities of the Clinical Pharmacology Unit are focusedprimarily around new drug development for cardiovascular diseasestates. Drugs currently undergoing clinical research include endothelinreceptor antagonists, cytokine antagonists and drugs that augmentendogenous vasodilator systems. The main areas of research interestare those of autonomic dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction incardiovascular disease. Clinical techniques employed include heartrate variability monitoring, titriated noradrenaline measurement ofsympathetic activity, noninvasive assessment of baroreflex sensitivityand invasive and noninvasive forearm blood flow studies using venousinclusion plethysmography.The Unit also conducts basic research in the Department of Medicine’slaboratories at the Monash Medical School. This involves animalmodels of heart failure with assessment of intracardiachaemodynamics, neurohormonal status and gene expression ofimportant regulatory factors, particularly cytokines and growth factors.A number of novel and existing drugs are currently being studied inthis manner.The Unit is also interested in cell culture of rat fibroblasts and humanmononuclear cells as markers for activity of certain growth factors inman.at the Alfred Heart Failure Centre, theAlfred Baker Medical Unit and theAlfred Healthcare Group.Staff in 2001Pauline Branley MBBS, FRACP, PhDRachel Denver (Dept of Medicine)Adam Bystrzycki (Dept of Medicine)Linton Harriss RN, DipAppSc(Nursing)Paul Martin (Dept of Medicine)Tegan James BA(Psych), BA(Lit)Anne-Marie Pellizzer MBBS, FRACPFiona See (Dept of Medicine)Marina Skiba BEd(Sec)SciRichard SkibaAlex Tzanidis (Dept of Medicine)Julie WilliamsEmma Windebanke (Dept of Medicine)Sue Xiang (Dept of Medicine)Jun Yao (Dept of MedicineSevim ZongurResearch in 2001.Carvedilol Open Label Assessment (COLA)Effect of rapid lipid lowering with atorvastatin on autonomic parameters innormal subjects andhyperlipidaemic patients with coronary artery diseaseElite II StudyEndothelin antagonist Bosentan for lowering cardiac events in heart failure(ENABLE-1)Research into Etancercept: CytOkine antagonism in VEntriculardysfunction trial (RECOVER)Valsartan Study
Diagnostics UnitHead of Unit- A/Prof Flavia Cicuttini MBBS(Hons), PhD, MSc, DLSHTM,FRACP, FAFPHMPhone 03 9903 0053, email flavia.cicuttini@med.monash.edu.auContributions to teaching include coordination and teaching ResearchMethods in the Master of Public Health, coordination of Epidemiologyand Biostatistics by distance mode of delivery, and Medicine andResearch for 4th year undergraduate medical students.Current research in this Unit includes using magnetic resonance imagingto understand factors that affect joint cartilage in healthy and diseasedstates and economic evaluation of medical diagnostics.Flavia graduated in medicinefrom Monash University in1982 and completed a PhDat the University of Melbournein 1993. She then completedan MSc at the University ofLondon, looking at risk factorsfor osteoarthritis andcompleted further study at theLondon School of Hygieneand Tropical Medicine in1996. Flavia is a member ofthe NHMRC ResearchFellowships Advisory Panel,Royal Australasian College ofPhysiciansResearchAdvisory Committee andJacquotSelectionCommittee, RACP, andOARSI study group onosteoarthritis of the hand.Research in 2001Clinical trial of antioxidants to slow progression of osteoarthritis.Rate of knee joint cartilage loss in people with osteoarthritis compared tonormal controls.Does oestrogen replacement therapy (ORT) prevent osteoarthritis?A cross-sectional study of the role of gender, pubertal stage, linear growthand physical activity in knee cartilagedevelopment in children.Are professional runners at increased risk of losing knee joint cartilage, thuspredisposing them to osteoarthritis?Human rights and healthcareStaff in 2001Bebe Loff MA (Lond) BA LLBMike Glisson MAPPSC, DAPPSC(Med Rad)Louise Prentice MBBS, FRACPAnita Wluka MBBS, Dip Int Med, FRACPFiona Savio BSc, GradDipClinEpi
EpidemiologicalModellingUnit of Human Services.In collaborationwith the DepartmentHead of Unit - Dr Theo Vos MD, MScPhone 03 9903 0049, email theo.vos@med.monash.edu.auCurrently, he is undertaking cost-effectiveness analyses in the areasof cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental disorders, buildingon the models developed for the burden of disease study inpartnerships between DHS, academic institutions and health NGOs.This unit aims to develop epidemiological and economic models toinform decisions on resource allocation in health. Research effortsinitially focussed on cost-effectiveness analyses of various preventiveinterventions for coronary heart disease (CHD). In collaboration withthe Centre for Health Program Evaluation and the Monash Instituteof Public Health, the unit is now undertaking the Assessing CostEffectiveness (ACE) Heart Disease Project which is funded by theNHMRC.Theo Vos qualified as a medicaldoctor in the Netherlands in 1980.He worked for 9 years in districthospitals and provincial healthoffices in Lesotho and Zimbabweperforming a combination ofclinical and public health duties.After completing a MSc degreein Public Health in DevelopingCountries at the London Schoolof Hygiene and Tropical Medicinein 1994, he stayed on as alecturer. His research interestsincluded the use of burden ofdisease and cost-effectivenessanalyses in priority setting and thedevelopment of methods toevaluate the quality of maternityand child health services in lowincome countries. In 1997, hejoined the Department of HumanServices (DHS) in Victoria. Hehas completed a burden ofdisease study for Victoriaadapting the methods developedfor the Global Burden of Diseasestudy to the Australian context inclose collaboration with ColinMathers at the Australia Instituteof Health and Welfare.Staff in 2001Dr Emma Ashton BAppSc, PhD, Research FellowMs Jane Brack BAppSc(Nursing), Research NurseMr Stephen Begg BA(Hons), MPH, PhD StudentMs Christine dos Santos BHlthSc, Research NurseMs Robyn Funston RN, Research NurseDr Andrew Haydon MBBS, FRACP, PhD StudentDr Danny Liew MBBS(Hons), BMedSc, PhD StudentMr Stephen Lim BSc(Hons) BA, PhD StudentDr Dianna Magliano BAppSc(Hons), PhD, Research FellowMs Judy Snaddon BA, SRN, SRM, Research NurseDr Vijaya Sundararajan BA, MD, MPH, Senior LecturerResearch in 2001Improving the cost-effectiveness of health services for the prevention andtreatment of coronary heart disease.The CHD Prevention Model - Cost-effectiveness of interventions forcardiovascular disease in Australia.Cost of Myocardial Infarction and heart failure in the Community (CosMIC)Epidemiology of hypertension in AustraliaRisk and determinants of fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease in theMelbourne Collaborative Cohort StudyThe Victorian Healthy Retirees Cohort StudyImproving cost effectiveness of health services for the prevention andtreatment of coronary heart disease.Take Heart
Health ServicesManagement UnitHealth Services ResearchUnitHead of Unit - Dr Jennifer Majoor MBBS, MHA,FRACMA, PhDHead of Unit - Dr Joseph Ibrahim MBBS, FRACP,MHA, PhDJenny Majoor is a medical graduate with specialistqualifications in Medical Administration and Public Health, aPhD in Health Services Research, a Master of HealthAdministration and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.Jenny is also an adjunct Assistant Professor in Health ServicesManagement and Policy at George Washington University,USA. She is a leading educator in the field of Health ServicesManagement and was awarded the Faculty of Medicine SilverJubilee Teaching Prize for 1999.Joe Ibrahim completed a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in thefield of quality of care evaluation and performance indicators.His principal area of expertise is in the assessment of thequality of clinical care and the development of quality indicatorsand he has made major contributions to Federal and StateHealth Department projects in this area, including thedevelopment of performance measures for effective dischargeand evaluation of clinical risk management models in Victoria.Dr Ibrahim has also worked internationally on a World BankProject developing a system for hospital accreditation inLebanon and co-ordinated a course on Health Care Quality inIndonesia.The Unit is involved with a number of research projects thatfocus on the interface between health management andeffective and efficient health service organisation and themeasurement and improvement of quality in health care.The work of the Health Services Research Unit has beenunderway since 1995 with a major focus on measuring andimproving quality in health care. Performance measurementand quality improvement research provides a mechanism toallow accountability for fund providers and provides a visiblemeans of protecting patients from inappropriate or sub-optimalcare. In 2000, Joe Ibrahim was invited to Lebanon by a majorproject funded by the World Bank to provide advice on qualityof care and health services reform in acute general hospitals.Joe visited a range of hospitals in Lebanon and also the Advisorto the Minister of Health and the Lebanese Army Commanderof Health Services.In 2002Jenny Majoor and Joe Ibrahim left the Department and these units were integrated into one unit, The Unit of Health ServicesManagement and Research, headed by Prof Just Stoelwinder.Phone: 61 3 9903 0559Fax: 61 3 9903 0044Email: just.stoelwinder@med.monash.edu.au
Infectious Disease Epidemiology UnitHead of Unit - Dr Karin Leder, MBBS, FRACP, MPH, DTM&HInfectious Disease Epidemiology includes the study of the prevalence of infectionsin populations, the identification of risk factors, and the development andevaluation of effective treatment measures and prevention strategies.Karin Leder is an infectious diseasephysician. After completing hermedical and specialty training, sheundertook an Infectious DiseaseFellowship at the Beth IsraelDeaconess Medical Center inBoston. During her stay in the USA,she completed a Masters of PublicHealth at Harvard University andalso became certified in TropicalMedicine. On her return to Australiain 2001, she was appointed to theposition of Senior Lecturer and Headof the Infectious DiseaseEpidemiology Unit at DEPM. Theprevious Head of the Unit, AssociateProfessor Christopher Fairley,resigned earlier in the year to takeup the position of Professor in theDepartment of Public Health at theUniversity of Melbourne.Through its partnership with the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment, the Unitis a leading centre for research on public health issues relating to drinking waterquality. Dr Leder is Leader of the Epidemiology Program of the Health andAesthetics Program Group of the CRC. Other research interests of the unitinclude infectious disease problems in clinical medicine, vaccination, refugeehealth and traveler’s health.Staff in 2001Dr Martha Sinclair BSc(Hons) PhD, Senior Research FellowDr Margaret Hellard MBBS, PhD FRACP, NHMRC Clinical Research FellowMs Samantha Rizak BA BASc MSc, Research FellowMs Pam Lightbody BSc, Research AssistantDr Jim Black MBBS(Hons), DTM&H, NMCommH, PhD StudentDr Caroline Marshall MBBS FRACP, PhD StudentDr Teresa Mitakakis BSc(Hons) PhD, Research FellowDr Alex Padiglione MBBS, FRACP, PhD StudentCRC for Water Quality & TreatmentCooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and TreatmentProgram Group Leader - Prof John McNeil, MBBS, MSc, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHMProgram Leader - Dr Karin Leder, MBBS, FRACP, MPH, DTM&HIn recognition of the fundamental importance of safe drinking water to communityhealth, the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment ha
The Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM) was established in 1969 at the Monash University Medical School - Alfred Hospital, and is now located at 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, with easy access to Monash Medical School and the Alfred Hospital. DEPM continues to play a prominent role in
