MJA Careers A In this Careers section MJ

C1 FEATURE Research Research as altruism

C3 as altruism Calendar of events

Australia needs more clinician–researchers, He is immediate past president of backed by the Medical Research Future Fund the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes and is the current and a less time-consuming and more secure chair of the Victorian chapter. funding process, says director and CEO of the He teaches at the University of and Monash University , Professor Brendan Crabb, AC and took on the job as CEO of the Burnet Institute 7 years ago. t's not unusual for an Australian They’re doing that because they “ Almost 2 years ago, the final Every year, medical researcher to spend 3 have other options, he says, or, if they report from the Strategic Review of months of every year writing grant choose to do medical research, they’re despite all I Health and Medical Research, led by applications to initiate or keep alive choosing to do it somewhere other Simon McKeon, AO, was published, than Australia, “where the funding is you’ll see, the projects that drive this country’s and highlighted a growing crisis of a little more secure”. reputation for innovation and diminishing numbers in Australian the world development. The success rate in the National research. The amount of research Is that process too difficult? Does Health and Medical Research Council being done by Australian medical is actually it take up too much of a researcher’s (NHMRC) project grant scheme is practitioners was diminishing.1 now down to about 15%, half of what getting time that could be spent on the real Among other factors, the McKeon it should be, says Professor Crabb. work? Review found that the problem lay better … and Professor Brendan Crabb, AC, “You don’t want it to be easy to get with inadequate funding set aside director and chief executive officer grants, but you certainly don’t want for clinician-directed research, the primarily of the Burnet Institute for medical it to be almost impossible, or a lucky apparent income disparity between what’s research, thinks so. dip.” work in the clinic and in the lab, and “It should be hard”, Professor Crabb The alternatives to moving overseas the lack of a clear career pathway for delivered that tells the MJA. to conduct research are to get out those wanting to combine the two. of the research field, or to spend a is innovations “It needs to be competitive. It needs Its recommendations included large chunk of time preparing grant to be tough. This is an international increasing the number of NHMRC in health applications. ’’ playing field — there’s nothing local practitioner fellowships to 1000 over about health and medical research. If “Grant applications are a good 10 years and embedding research training as part of education and you’re not doing the best stuff in the thing — they help you hone things accreditation in order to support dual world, you can’t be in it. and plan what you’re going to do very carefully, but again, it’s too researcher–practitioner education “There isn’t anyone who thinks, much”, Professor Crabb says of the pathways. though, that we haven’t gone too far. time commitment needed to craft a As far as Professor Crabb is “We run the risk now, and we’re successful grant submission. concerned, there are still “nowhere already seeing it, of our top people, A molecular biologist by training, near enough” clinician–researchers or otherwise really talented people Professor Crabb’s research career in Australia, but the situation has who should be choosing health and focused on , especially in the improved since the 2013 review. medical research as their career, development of vaccines and new continued on page C2 Professor Brendan Crabb saying ‘I don’t think so’.” treatments for the disease. Editor: Cate Swannell • [email protected] • (02) 9562 6666 MJA 202 (4) · 2 March 2015 C1

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the most vulnerable people locally, nationally and internationally, with a focus on our own Asia–Pacific region. “That’s really changed everything for us”, he says. “We look at everything through that prism. “You don’t have to look very far to realise that these things — [the health and wellbeing of society’s most vulnerable populations] — impact on us all.” Medical research has an altruistic edge to it, and that, Professor Crabb “The McKeon Review had “They don’t need to have any great says, is perhaps its most attractive tremendous traction and those vision of what they can contribute to quality. recommendations are starting to research. “It’s the right thing to do. It creates an trickle through”, he says. “There’s no way to really understand economically better world, a safer world, the research paradigm and what it “The problem has been recognised, a world in which you as the donor brings unless you actually have a go some of the solutions have been would be healthier.” at it. identified, but we still have a major It’s that bigger picture that intrigues challenge to implement that.” “The more clinicians or people in Professor Crabb and, he hopes, will training for clinical work do some The answer comes down to two similarly lure future generations of research, even if they have no intention things — “money and policy”, he says. clinician–researchers. of making that a mainstay of their “We think we’ve got the policy, or at career, the better they will be at their “Every year, despite all you’ll see, the least the framework that will address job.” world is actually getting better”, he says. that issue. But it’s more than a self-interested “And that paradigm of the better off “We don’t yet have the money and pursuit, he says. supporting those who are less fortunate is what’s delivered that. And primarily the Medical Research Future Fund “The second reason [for doing what’s delivered that is innovations in (MRFF) … would obviously provide research] is that the research that health.” those funds. actually is done benefits enormously from people who are at the coalface. 1. Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research “So I don’t think we’re far off having – Better health through research http://www. a circumstance under which it is much “When the very same person who is mckeonreview.org.au more attractive for clinically oriented seeing patients is actually going back 2. Cunningham A L, Anderson T, Bennett C C, et al, into the laboratory or into field-based Why Australia needs a Medical Research Future people to do more research.” Fund. Med J Aust 2015; 202: 123-124. research — I don’t think you need to Professor Crabb coauthored a be tremendously psychoanalytical to The full interview with Professor Crabb is available Perspective in the 16 February issue of realise that that is a really good circle. as a podcast and video in the multimedia section at the MJA that was strongly supportive www.mja.com.au/multimedia “It makes the research very focused of the MRFF, regardless of the political on the problems that are really there. environment.2 Cate Swannell “Thirdly, [clinician–researchers] “Australia has one of the best and are among the most talented, if most efficient health care systems in not the most talented people in the the world, underpinned by past and country, therefore they should do the MJA current research, and the potential to research and the research will benefit ADVERTISING INDEX do much more is exciting”, Professor enormously from that talent.” ACSQHC Crabb and his coauthors wrote. When Professor Crabb took on the Fact sheet ...... Inside front cover “The MRFF offers us a way to directorship of the Burnet Institute in AFT Pharmaceuticals achieve this potential, and the 2008, it was a merging of two research Maxigesic ...... p167 evidence shows that all Australians leviathans — the Macfarlane Burnet stand to benefit.” Institute for Medical Research and Avant Public Health and the Austin Research ...... So why should medical students, Medical Indemnity p164 Institute — both with their own well trainees and registrars consider taking respected research agendas. Nuance Communications Australia on such a difficult and potentially Dragon dictate ...... p174 Professor Crabb and his executive frustrating career in research? wanted to give the new entity a single Pfi zer Primary Care “It will make them better doctors, focus. Rather than a disease, the focus Lyrica ...... Outside back cover for a start”, Professor Crabb tells the would be on a group of people — the MJA. poorest, most marginalised, and

C2 MJA 202 (4) · 2 March 2015

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This calendar will be updated each month. If you have an event you would like to add, please include relevant details in an email to [email protected]

ALM = active learning module 17-20 35th International Symposium on Intensive 28-29 Master Class Ophthalmic Oncology Conference, ASM = annual scientifi c meeting Care and Emergency Medicine, Brussels, Belgium Mumbai, India 17-21 29-2 Apr CPD = continuing professional development World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Abu Gram-Negative Resistance, Tahoe City, Dhabi, UAE California, USA CT = computerised tomography 18-21 9th World Immune Regulation Meeting, Davos, 30-Apr 1 ECHO/echo 15th Australian Cell Cycle meeting, Sydney, NSW = echocardiography Switzerland EMAC = eff ective management of anaesthetic crises 18-21 Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases APRIL MRI = magnetic resonance imaging ASM, Auckland, NZ 1-4 OSCE = objective structured clinical examination 18-21 5th Biennial Congress of the Asian-Pacifi c 30th Asia-Pacifi c Academy of Ophthalmology Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Association, Congress, Guangzhou, SAT SET = supervisors and trainers for surgical Singapore education and training 7-11 17th International Neuroscience Winters 18-22 12th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Conference, Soelden, Austria and Parkinson’s Diseases, Nice, France 8-10 Interprofessional Health, Education and MARCH 19-20 24th Annual Medico Legal Congress, Sydney Practice International Conference, Melbourne NSW VIC 2 Bipolar disorder in adults, London, UK 19-20 4th International Conference on Vitamin D 10-12 Asian Oncology Summit, Shanghai, China 2–4 Defi ciency, Abu Dhabi, UAE ANZCA Ultrasound in anaesthetics and critical 10-12 Viral Hepatitis 2015, Shanghai, China care, Gold Coast, QLD 19-21 International Society for Evolution, Medicine, 10-12 9th Annual Update in Paediatric Emergencies, 2-4 and Public Health Inaugural Meeting, Tempe, 1st International Brain Stimulation Conference, Noosa, QLD Singapore Arizona, USA 11-12 World Congress on Angiogenesis 2015 4-6 19-22 4th Global Congress for Consensus in Pediatrics , Boston, Australian and New Zealand Addiction Massachusetts, USA Conference, Gold Coast, QLD and Child Health, Budapest, Hungary 20 11-14 Urological Society of Australia and New 4-7 International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Australian Disease Management Association’s Zealand 68th ASM, Adelaide, SA Spectrum Disorder, Vancouver, Canada Primary and Secondary Prevention of Chronic Disease seminar, Melbourne, VIC 12–15 RCOG/RANZCOG Joint World Congress, 4-7 25th AGES ASM in conjunction with the ISGE 20-22 Brisbane, QLD 24th Annual Congress, Melbourne, VIC International Meeting in Indigenous Child Health, Ottawa, Canada 12-16 International Congress of the of 5-6 International conference of attachment and 20-22 Diabetes Society, Munich, Germany trauma informed practice 2015, Melbourne, VIC International Medicine in Addiction Conference, Melbourne, VIC 14-16 Obesity Summit 5-7 67th Annual Wills Eye Conference, Philadelphia, , London UK 21-25 Pennsylvania, USA 6th World Congress on Sleep Medicine, Seoul, 15-17 World Cornea Congress VII, San Diego, California, Republic of Korea 5-7 16th World Congress of Pain Clinicians, Miami USA 22 Beach, Florida, USA Symposium on Fetal Therapy, Shatin, Hong Kong 15-17 International Medical Forum, Kyiv, Ukraine 22-25 6th World Congress on Women’s Mental Health, 6 RACP Australasian Sexual Health Conference 15-18 13th World Rural Health Conference 2015, Tokyo, Japan and ASM, Sydney, NSW Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia 6-7 22-27 Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms 2015, Lucca, International Symposium about Current Issues 15-18 30th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Italy and Controversies in Psychiatry 2015, Barcelona, Disease International, Perth, WA Spain 24-26 International TB Summit, London, UK 15-18 14th Asian Australasian Congress of 6-8 24-26 LCANZ 2015 Breastfeeding Conference: More International Symposium on Medical Neurological Surgeons, Jeju, Republic of Korea than milk, Brisbane, QLD Information and Communication Technology, 15-18 International DIP Symposium on Diabetes, 8-13 Hayama, Japan Tropical Infectious Diseases 2015, Galveston, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and 25-26 Texas, USA Superbugs and Superdrugs, London, UK Pregnancy, Berlin, Germany 9-12 25-28 International Conference on Urban Health, 13th Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Medicine World 15-18 International Society for Heart and Lung Dhaka, Bangladesh Congress, Monaco, Monaco Transplantation 2015, Nice, France 12-14 5th International Neonatology Conference, Abu 25–29 New Zealand Pain Society 40th ASM, Auckland, 16 Sydney Diabetic Foot Conference, Sydney, NSW Dhabi, UAE New Zealand 16-18 4th World Congress of Dermoscopy, Vienna, 12-14 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus 26-27 2nd Gulf Liver Summit, Dubai, UAE Austria Conference, St Gallen, Switzerland 26-28 Rehab Tech Asia, Singapore 16-19 2nd World Congress on Controversies in 12-14 3rd International Congress on Controversies in 26-28 9th World Congress on Controversies in Pediatrics (CoPedia), Budapest, Hungary Rheumatology and Autoimmunity, Sorrento, Neurology, Budapest, Hungary Italy 17-20 4th International Congress on Dual Disorders 26-28 13 Consortium of Universities for Global Health and Dual Psycho-Pathology, Barcelona, Spain International Medical Symposium: The future 2015 Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, 19-22 of the medical profession, Melbourne, VIC USA Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand 13-14 18th Annual Congress, Melbourne, VIC 2015 UroGynaecological Society of Australasia 26-29 7th International Congress of the Asia Pacifi c 21-25 ASM and AGM, Sydney, NSW Society of Infection Control, Taipei, Taiwan World Conference on Disaster and Emergency 13-17 Medicine 2015, Cape Town, South Africa ISN World Congress of Nephrology, Cape Town, 26-29 6th World Congress in Controversies in 22-26 South Africa Ophthalmology, Sorrento, Italy 50th International Liver Congress 2015, Vienna, 15-17 Austria 6th Association of South-East Asian Pain 26-29 6th International Conference on Fixed Societies Congress, Manila, Philippines Combination in the Treatment of Hypertension, 23-25 6th IVI International Congress – Reproductive 15–18 35th Australian Pain Society ASM: Managing Dyslipidemia and Diabetes Mellitus, Berlin, Medicine and Beyond, Alicante, Spain Pain from Mechanisms to Policy, Brisbane, QLD Germany 23-26 3rd World Congress on Controversies, Debates 15-18 3rd International One Health Congress, 27-29 4th Asia-Pacifi c Breast Cancer Summit, and Consensus in Bone, Muscle and Joint Amsterdam, Netherlands Brisbane, QLD Diseases, Montreal, Canada

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General Practitioners FOR SALE Full and Part Time Positions SPECIALISTS WANTED Saratoga Medical Centre Saratoga meets the requirements of DWS Fitzpatrick House Positions are available for experienced, Vocationally Registered General Practitioners with FRACGP to join our new SPECIALIST CENTRE, SALE, GIPPSLAND mixed billing Practice which is due to open in April. www.fitzpatrickhouse.com.au Our Practice will be open Monday to Friday and Saturday Psychiatrist morning. This is an excellent opportunity for you to build and Neurologist develop your own Practice as an Associate. Our philosophy is to provide a fl exible workplace that values a lifestyle balance Dermatologist of work and pleasure. We appreciate the demands of family Rheumatologist and other life commitments and wish to strike a happy balance Endocrine Physician to foster a supportive team environment. There is substantial patient interest in joining our Practice. Renal Physician Benefi ts include: Respiratory Physician • Beautiful location in a waterside suburb of the Central Coast Fitzpatrick House Specialist Centre ConsulƟ ng Rooms • Mixed billing are interested in recruiƟ ng visiƟ ng private specialist • Six weeks annual leave, excluding Public holidays pracƟ Ɵ oners to service the local community from as far • Ability to take leave knowing that your patients aĮ eld as the NSW border to close to Melbourne. are being cared for by your colleagues - 2 hour drive from Melbourne • After hours services available - BeauƟ ful historic building opposite the local public hospital • Involvement in Practice meetings - Parking for 33 cars • New, modern, paperless offi ce based Practice - Easy paƟ ent wheelchair access - In-house dictaƟ on transcripƟ on • Pathology collection centre on site - Variable consulƟ ng arrangements from simple meet and greet to complete • All equipment, supplies, administrative pracƟ ce support including daily banking and accounƟ ng and clerical services provided SALE IS AN AREA OF NEED AND For further information, ADDITIONAL RWAV INCENTIVES CAN BE ACCESSED please phone Trish on 0412324089 Phone : 0417 553650 or 0418365708

Full-time Doctor for solo GP practice in Unanderra just South of Wollongong, NSW 1.0 FTE Staff Specialist Rheumatologist Current GP is retiring, full patient list, well equipped practice, Classification: Staff Specialist Location: Westmead practice manager/reception staff in place, excellent position, Employment Status: Permanent Full Time practice soon to bring on further GP’s & Allied Healthcare staff. Enquiries: Professor Nicholas Manolios With other GP practices in the area no longer taking Email: [email protected] NP’s there is strong potential for growth with an incentive Reference Number: 12572 based remuneration package. Closing Date: 13 March 2015 Please forward your expression of interest and CV to: It is essential for all applicants to contact the Specialist [email protected] Medical and Dental Recruitment Unit on (02) 8838 2094 or email [email protected] for an application package. or contact Anthony 1300 652 361 for further information. All selection criteria must be addressed in your application. Applications must be received by 5pm on this date. All applications are to be forwarded to the SMADR Unit, Locked Bag 7118, Blacktown: Specialist Medical Rooms Parramatta, BC NSW 2124. Sessions in modern specialist centre close to Please apply online by visiting: nswhealth.erecruit.com.au Blacktown Hospital. Z01278

Enquiries: [email protected] NSW Health Service: employer of choice

C4 MJA 202 (4) · 2 March 2015

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