Balancing Clinical and Research Life: Stories, Advice, and Good Company

The Sydney Health Partners Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Clinical Academic Group (CAG) invites you to register for our first interdisciplinary networking evening of the year.

Hosted by CAG Co-Chairs, Associate Professor Sarah Melov and Associate Professor Tanya Nippita, the evening will include:

• clinician-researchers from different disciplines and at different career stages sharing honest experiences and practical advice

• perspectives on combining clinical work and research in an international context

• answers to questions you've always wanted to ask from an expert panel

• networking over refreshments

Whether you are a health professional balancing clinical work and research, are considering research training, or just curious about pathways and opportunities for getting more involved in research, come along and hear from doctors, midwives, neonatal nurses, and more!

Arrive from 5:15pm for refreshments, with the formal program beginning at 5:45pm.

If you're not yet a CAG member, you're welcome to join up before registering.

If this is your first time visiting Westmead Hospital, a facilty and car parking map is available here.

When you arrive, please enter the hospital through the main entrance (Entrance 4) and continue straight then turn left into the Education block (Block H). You will see the WECC office which is on Level 2. Then use the Level 2 stairs down to Level 1:

Once you get to level 1, please follow the route in red to the Cabaret Room:

CAG Co-Chairs

A/Prof Tanya Nippita MBBS BSc(Med) FRANZCOG PhD

The Head of Obstetrics and a Senior Staff Specialist Obstetrician at RNSH, and an Associate Professor with the Sydney Medical School- Northern Precinct, University of Sydney, conducting her research with the Reproduction and Perinatal Centre, University of Sydney. Her focus is on improving evidence-based maternity care, through research, policy and practice improvement.

A/Prof Sarah Melov RM RN MN PhD

Clinical Midwife Consultant- Research Westmead Hospital and Clinical A/Prof University of Sydney. She has an interest in cardiometabolic risk, translation, consumers in research and migrant health. Her support for research in NSW Health has been recognised with the 2024 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Award: Leadership.

Speakers

Vanessa El-Achi BSc(Ad), MBBS(Hons), FRANZCOG, DDU

A Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and currently working towards both a Certificate in Maternal Fetal Medicine and a PhD. Also balancing education, research, clinical experience and maternity leave as well as life with two small children - currently on maternity leave.  Vanessa’s research focus is on variations in preterm birth and is supported by the Australian Government RTP Scholarship.

David Antcliff RN RM PhD candidate Midwifery Educator

Based at RNS Hospital David has extensive experience in midwifery education, with leadership in maternity education initiatives at both local and state levels. He has successfully led the rollout of the NSW Health Mentoring in Midwifery Program NSLHD and the implementation of the Mentoring in Nursing Pilot Program. He is undertaking a PhD at the University of Technology Sydney, exploring the impact of structured mentoring on midwives and midwifery students.

Priya Govindaswamy RN PhD

Priya is an early career researcher, Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in paediatric and neonatal critical care in Australia and India. She has a strong commitment to improving neonatal and family‑centred care through the promotion of evidence‑based practice in surgical NICUs, with particular interests in education, simulation, and research to optimise neonatal outcomes.

Prof Dharmintra Pasupathy MSc EMBA PhD CMFM FRCOG

Professor Pasupathy is a senior academic and obstetrician specialising in Maternal and Fetal Medicine. He became the Inaugural Director of the Reproduction and Perinatal Centre (RPC) in 2021 and currently serves as Deputy Head of School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Panel

Ms Michelle de Vroome MN RM RN (NSLHD) is co-clinical director nursing and midwifery directorate/maternal, neonatal and women's health network. She has more than 20 years’ experience in midwifery management and facilitating or engaged in research.

A/Prof Sean Seeho MBBS FRANZCOG PhD (NSLHD) is a Specialist Obstetrician, Clinical Academic and Joint Head of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology at the University of Sydney, Chair of the Board at Stillbirth Foundation Australia, and a member of the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence Executive Committee. He is a senior clinician researcher whose areas of expertise include high risk pregnancy conditions including preeclampsia, preterm birth and stillbirth.

Prof Adrienne Gordon MBChB MRCP (UK) MPH (Hons) FRACP PhD (SLHD) is a Neonatologist, Clinical Professor, Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Senior Staff Specialist Neonatologist Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and current President of PSANZ.  She is a unique neonatal clinician-researcher whose research focuses on pregnancy and maternal as well as neonatal health interventions.  

Chair:

A/Prof Rachel Thompson BPsySc(Hons) PhD FHEA (University of Sydney). A behavioural scientist with training in health psychology and shared decision-making, Rachel conducts perinatal and reproductive health research that seeks to enable all people to access health care that is evidence-based and aligned with their preferences and values.