Innovative research celebrated

February 2020

The Emergency Medicine Foundation shone a spotlight on the recipients of its 2019 research funding this week.

The EMF Grants Award Ceremony is held annually to publicly congratulate recent grant recipients and to celebrate ground-breaking research outcomes from previous grants.

Nurses, a paramedic and emergency care clinicians were among the 13 successful grant recipients selected through a rigorous review process. The highly competitive applications represented some of the highest quality research projects ever submitted to EMF.

The event also featured presentations from previous years’ grant recipients, including Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Physician and Paediatrician, Dr Peter Snelling who shared findings of EMF supported research into bedside ultrasound for children with upper limb fractures.

Quality Use of Medicines Pharmacist at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Dr Champika Pattullo, outlined the Opioid Prescribing Toolkit, designed to reduce over prescribing without creating additional work for clinicians.

Professor Gerben Keijzers and Professor Julia Crilly took guests on the Gold Coast University Hospital’s journey to build research capacity within the Emergency Department that has led to improved patient outcomes and staff experiences.

EMF General Manager, Dr Sonĵ Hall, described the increasing pressures and challenges affecting emergency services and healthcare, including major bushfires, drought, floods and dust storms, in addition to the Covid – 19 outbreak.

“Research has never been more vital, underpinning new and improved approaches to emergency healthcare. The Emergency Medicine Foundation supports multi-disciplinary emergency care research, and its rapid translation into clinical practice. We’re also actively helping to build research capacity, which is especially critical for clinicians in our regional and rural hospitals,” said Dr Hall.

“We are confident that the researcher-clinicians awarded during this year’s and past ceremonies will continue to contribute innovative research to ensure our emergency healthcare services grow to meet future demands,” said Dr Hall.

The ceremony also provided the EMF with an opportunity to recognise the long term commitment of those who have generously donated their time and expertise by serving on the Foundation’s Board, committee and panels. Professor Diann Eley, Susanne Le Boutillier and Professor Marianne Wallis received Recognition of Service Awards.

Congratulations to all 2019 EMF grant recipients and award winners!

Jump Start

Hui (Grace) Xu, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
Hugo Evison, Queensland Ambulance Service
Amanda Harley, Queensland Children’s Hospital and Gold Coast University Hospital

Leading Edge

A/Prof Jaimi Greenslade, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Dr Nemat Alsaba, Gold Coast University Hospital
Sarah Weber, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Staff specialist grants

Dr Barrie Field, Sunshine Coast University Hospital & Nambour General Hospital
Dr Siegfried Perez, Logan Hospital
Dr Sean Clark, Caboolture Hospital

Trainee grant

Dr Lucy Dunstan, Gold Coast University Hospital

Project grants

Dr Kate Hooper, Townsville University Hospital
Dr Katrina Starmer, Cairns Hospital
Dr Peter Snelling, Gold Coast University Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital

Recognition of Service