2010 - General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre

Ms Shelley Walker BA has a background in nursing and community development, with research interests in young people and
sexual health. She is completing a Masters by Research in Primary Health Care, exploring the phenomenon of sexting from the
perspective of young people.
2008
Dr Ann-Marie Diggins MBchB FRACGP is a GP with an interest in the psychological aspects of the doctor-patient
interaction. Ann-Marie has been involved in a Balint group which explores the doctor-patient interaction and is interested in
researching aspects of this process.
Dr Carolyn Ee BAppSc MB BS was an academic GP registrar in 2006. Carolyn has returned to undertake a Master of
Medicine. She is investigating the role of acupuncture in managing menopausal symptoms.
Dr Jessica Kneebone MB BS DRANZCOG FRACGP has spent most of her medical career working in Indigenous health in
the Northern Territory. Her research interests include sexual health of Indigenous Australians.
Dr Richard Teague MB BS MPH DipVen DipSexCounselling DRANZCOG FRACGP is a GP with a research interest in sexual
health and injecting drug use.
The Education Program
We offer a comprehensive training program as part of the Victorian PHCRED Partnership. Further details can be found at
www.vicphcred.monash.edu.au. The Academic Centre also offers research and evaluation consultancy support to primary care
practitioners and is constantly working to build successful partnerships to undertake collaborative research.
RESEARCH HIGHER DEGREE STUDENTS
There are several established research themes available within the Academic Centre for doctoral and master students. We
welcome anyone who is interested to contact the Director of Research Training to discuss potential research areas in more detail.
The degrees of Master of Medicine, Master of Primary Health Care, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy are all
available for enrolment from within the Academic Centre. All of these programs enable students to undertake a major research
project on a primary health care topic of their choice and to develop competency in the conduct of research methodologies in the
primary health care setting. Experienced supervisors with a background in various disciplines, including general practice,
psychology, sociology, health evaluation, complementary and alternative medicines, and statistics, assist students in their
research. Those interested in further information should contact the Director of Research Training.
PHD STUDENTS
Dr Asmaa Al-Khatib BDS DCD Asmaa's thesis aims to investigate the prevalence, severity and risk factors for early childhood
caries in Qatar and to propose an early intervention oral health promotion program.
Ms Patty Chondros BSc GDipEpid&Biostat MSc Patty's thesis aims to develop practical guidelines to assist researchers and
applied statisticians in deciding when to use the matched-pair design in cluster randomised trials and how to best analyse data
from matched-pair studies. She is co-enrolled with the Department of Paediatrics.
Ms Sandra Davidson BA GDipBehavStdsHlthCare MPsych Sandra's thesis examines the longitudinal association between
social connectness and recovery from depression.
Dr Caroline Johnson MB BS FRACGP Caroline's thesis explores the monitoring of depression in the GP setting.
Ms Tanya Koolmatrie BA Tanja's thesis focuses on the social and emotional wellbeing of aboriginal women during the perinatal
period.
Dr Ruth McNair MB BS PhD DA DRANZCOG FRACGP Ruth's thesis investigated the health care experiences of same-sex
attracted women when consulting with their usual general practitioner. Ruth graduate d in March 2010.
Ms Anita Morris BSW MSW Anita's thesis focuses on children whose mothers have identified that they have been afraid of their
partner. The project is titled Safety and resiliency at home: voices of children from a primary care population (the SARAH project).
Ms Susan Perlen BNsg MPubHlth RM Susan's thesis examines smoking cessation advice and support during pregnancy and
explores the impact of changing policy on practice in Victoria.
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