Dr Siegfried Perez is an Emergency Physician whose research career spans over a decade, from clinical trials in alcohol intoxication and back pain to a PhD aimed at improving the way emergency departments (EDs) monitor and act on clinical quality. His work, using chest pain risk stratification as a model, combined guideline mapping, automated data extraction, and machine learning to see whether EDs are following critical pathways and how consistently clinicians make risk decisions. In this conversation, Dr Perez shares what inspired him to pursue a PhD, the hurdles he faced along the way, and how his work could help shape the future of emergency care.

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What inspired you to undertake a PhD?

When I first started as a consultant, I inherited the chest pain portfolio. We had guidelines for low, intermediate, and high-risk patients, but I quickly realised we didn’t know how well we were following them. I couldn’t locate the patients, track how they were identified, or confirm whether the pathways were actually being used. That became my core motivation: how do we systematically find and assess these patients?

One of the people who supported me early on, John O’Dwyer, passed away from a heart attack. That reinforced that this work isn’t abstract, it affects real people we care about.

 

Can you explain your PhD research?

One of the reviewers described it as three PhDs rolled into one because it brought together three connected areas:

• Clinical understanding: I first had to define exactly what information clinicians use to risk-stratify chest pain patients. Without this, nothing else works.
• Data extraction: We didn’t want to add more documentation for already busy clinicians, so we mined existing electronic records using CSIRO annotation tools.
• Machine learning: Few clinicians write explicitly ‘low risk’ or ‘high risk,’ so we modelled the decisions a doctor would make based on the data.

This approach moves us beyond one-off audits. You can now quickly spot patterns, for example, if five times more CT scans are being ordered than last year, you can ask why. It enables real-time monitoring of care, better resource use, and most importantly, lives saved.

 

What helped you get through the difficult moments during your PhD?

I had excellent mentors reminding me to focus. If you keep adding new ideas, you’ll never finish, so I had to learn to say, this isn’t part of my PhD.

A PhD can be incredibly stressful. I worked with a psychologist, learned to compartmentalise and prioritise work-life balance. Protecting yourself while pushing outside your comfort zone is essential, if you’re always comfortable, you’re not growing.

 

How did EMF’s support shape your research journey?

EMF was extremely patient with me. I probably took on too many projects and derailed my timeline, but they supported me the whole way. Their backing helped me understand what research actually involves and got me started on this path; EMF has been a significant part of my career.

 

What do you see as the most important outcome from your PhD?

The framework itself. I didn’t want to produce research that wouldn’t be relevant. The process I developed, understanding what information is needed, how to get it, and how to apply it, should outlive the specific tools I used.

‘Progress, not perfection’ sounds cliché, but a PhD really is a marathon. Sometimes your work crawls along, but you need to keep moving in the same direction.

 

What advice would you give to clinicians or early-career researchers thinking about EMF grants or a PhD?

Don’t apply for a grant just because it’s available. Apply because you genuinely need the funding to move your research forward. Start the research first so you fully understand your needs, ask for help early, and push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Mental health is key, take care of yourself, and remember: a PhD isn’t required to do meaningful research. You can still make a real impact without the degree.

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With guidance, determination, and a clear focus on meaningful outcomes, Dr Perez’s journey demonstrates that research isn’t just about discoveries. It’s about making a difference for patients and the clinicians who care for them.

Read more in Dr Perez’s PhD reflection piece published in Emergency Medicine Australasia