Dobney Chair in Clinical Research - His.admin.uwa.edu.au - The ...

faculty of Medicine, dentistry and health sciencesDobney Chair inClinical Researchinformation for candidates — september 2012

Appointment ofDobney Chair in Clinical ResearchContentsIntroduction | 02The University of WesternAustralia | 03Role, key responsibilities,selection criteria and conditionsof employment | 04Faculty of Medicine, Dentistryand Health Sciences | 06RPH Medical ResearchFoundation andRoyal Perth Hospital | 07Western Australiaand Perth | 08Applications | 08The University of Western Australia | 01

IntroductionThe University of Western Australia has a longand distinguished history and has produced manyoutstanding graduates who have given serviceto Australia and the international community.As a member of the prestigious Group of Eightresearch-intensive universities, it is consistentlyranked amongst the top Australian universities.Applications are invited for appointment to the DobneyChair in Clinical Research based in the School ofMedicine and Pharmacology at the Royal Perth Hospitalcampus. The appointee will be expected to provideacademic and clinical leadership in matters relating tothe Hospital, the University and the wider community ofWestern Australia.The Dobney Chair in Clinical Research has beenestablished by a collaboration between the Royal PerthHospital Medical Research Foundation (MRF), TheUniversity of Western Australia and the Department ofHealth. The appointment recognises the extraordinarycontribution made to the MRF and medical research bythe late Mr Ray Dobney.The School of Medicine and Pharmacology in the Facultyof Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences is dedicatedto excellence in teaching and research and is seeking toappoint a leading clinical academic. Researchers fromany discipline will be considered, but preference may begiven to researchers complementing current themes ofcardiometabolic and diabetic medicine, hypertension,clinical nutrition, geriatrics and stroke medicine.This appointment is essential to ensure the growthand consolidation of clinical research at the RoyalPerth Hospital campus and The University of WesternAustralia. On behalf of the University, I welcome yourinterest in this position.Professor Paul JohnsonVice-Chancellor02 | meddent.uwa.edu.au

The University of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia – a member ofAustralia’s Group of Eight – combines the traditions ofthe world’s old and great universities with the vitalityand excitement of innovative study and research inthe 21st century. It is recognised internationally asan excellent teaching and research university, anda leading intellectual and creative resource to thecommunity it serves.The University of Western Australia is a high-qualityresearch-intensive university with a broad and balancedcoverage of disciplines in the arts, science and majorprofessions. It is Western Australia’s oldest university,established in 1911, and currently has a studentpopulation of approximately 23,000.The University has acquired an international reputationfor excellence and enterprise and is regarded as one ofAustralia’s best research institutions. Its strong researchculture sees it attract high levels of competitive researchfunding. At the same time the University places greatemphasis on high quality in teaching and learning, andis committed to the development of innovative andresponsive programs. It has focused on the teachingresearchnexus, so that teaching and learning take placein an atmosphere of research scholarship.The University’s high quality teaching and researchensure it remains the university of preference forWestern Australia’s highest achieving school leavers,as well as attracting high-calibre undergraduate andpostgraduate students from around the nation andoverseas. The quality of the student population isextremely high by national and international standards.The University is recognised nationally and internationallyfor the quality of its academic staff and has strongstrategic partnerships with industry, the professionsand government. It operates in collaboration with otherresearch intensive universities in Australia and aroundthe world. The University of Western Australia graduatesare highly competitive internationally, achievingsuccess in higher study and in wide-ranging fields ofemployment. Many graduates have risen to prominencein leadership roles in industry, government, educationand the professions, in Australia and internationally.uwa.edu.auThe University of Western Australia | 03

Role, key responsibilities, selection criteriaand conditions of employmentRoleThe Dobney Chair in Clinical Research hasWinthrop Professor status and will be responsibleto the Head of the School of Medicine andPharmacology (via the Head of the RPH Unit of theSchool) for University activities and to the Head ofthe relevant Department at Royal Perth Hospitalfor clinical and hospital duties.The appointee will be expected to provideleadership in clinical research, clinical service,undergraduate and postgraduate teachingactivities and policy development.Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership and Teaching• Provide academic and clinical leadership in mattersrelating to the Hospital, the University and the widercommunity in Western Australia.• Provide leadership and make a significantcontribution to both undergraduate and postgraduateteaching and training of clinical trial skills (eg. fosteringPhD students and higher degrees by clinicians)• Provide leadership in teaching in their disciplineat all levels.Research• Provide academic leadership and foster collaborativerelations with other clinical research groups andInstitutes, eg. Western Australian Institute for MedicalResearch (WAIMR).• Initiate and conduct scholarly internationallyrecognised clinical research including clinicaltrials. (Preference may be given to the areas ofcardiometabolic and diabetic medicine, hypertension,clinical nutrition, geriatrics and stroke medicine, butother disciplines may be considered.)• Promote clinical research at the Royal PerthHospital campus.• Communicate research findings through scientificpublications, reports, meetings and teaching.• Actively seek and attract funding for clinical research.• Supervise graduate and postgraduate research,including Honours, Masters and PhD Students.Clinical• Provide a clinical service including inpatient andoutpatient care together with consultative servicesacross the RPH campus as part of the SouthMetropolitan Health Service (SMHS), limited tono more than 20-25% total time.• Provide leadership towards the development of aculture that translates and utilizes the findings ofresearch to improve health and prevent disease.• Promote the integration of clinical research withthe delivery of clinical care at the campus.• Promote training of physicians in clinical research skills.Service• Liaise and effectively communicate with relevantsections of the community, various professionalbodies (including the nursing and allied healthprofessions), government departments and nongovernmentorganisations.General• The Dobney Chair in Clinical Research will be basedat the Royal Perth Hospital campus. The appointeemust be willing to work within the legislativerequirements of both the University and the SouthMetropolitan Health Service and support theprinciples of equity and diversity.• Ensure the ongoing application of continuous qualityimprovement principles in systematically evaluatingand meeting client needs.• Ensure relevant practicable occupational safety andhealth practices and standards are implemented andmaintained.• Other duties as directed.04 | meddent.uwa.edu.au

Selection criteriaQualifications• Registrable as a medical practitioner with theAustralian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency(AHPRA).• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College ofPhysicians or equivalent.• A higher academic degree (PhD or MD) in medicineis essential.• Professional qualifications and practical experiencein a health-related field, and/or a record of academicachievement in education in a health-related field.• Wide experience in any clinical discipline (preferencemay be given to cardiometabolic and diabeticmedicine, hypertension, clinical nutrition, geriatricsand stroke medicine) at hospital consultant level orits equivalent.• Evidence of a strong track record in world-classclinical research in a chosen specialty demonstratedwith publications, collaborations and success innational funding applications.Conditions of employmentThe appointment will be for a fixed term period of sevenyears, and is located full-time at the Royal Perth Hospitalcampus. As the appointee will be on a dual contract ofemployment with The University of Western Australiaand the Department of Health, employment is contingentupon both employers issuing employment contracts.An attractive and flexibly constructed remunerationpackage will be negotiated and will include:• Winthrop Professorial salary and Clinical Loading;• Hospital Salary;• Option for a clinical private practice allowance;• Employer contribution to superannuation of 17%(standard employee contribution is 7% also);• Eligibility for sabbatical leave;• Generous leave provisions and salary packaging;• Funding for research support staff and infrastructure;• Relocation assistance including airfares (if applicable).Leadership and Teaching• Capacity to provide academic and clinical leadershipin matters relating to the Hospital, the University andthe wider community of Western Australia.• Evidence of personal contribution and commitmentto high quality undergraduate and postgraduateteaching and education.• Exemplary interpersonal and organisational skillsand the ability to liaise and effectively communicatewith relevant sections of the community, professionalbodies, government departments and other externalorganisations.Research and Scholarship• Academic leadership and personal commitmentto, and achievement in, scholarly research andcommunication of that achievement to others.• Ability to foster teamwork and promote researchactivities.• Ability to supervise graduate and postgraduatestudents and a willingness to supervise majorhonours or postgraduate research projects.• Ability to attract research resources.• Experience in the development of research policyand the ability to link research to clinical practiceand teaching.The University of Western Australia | 05

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistryand Health SciencesThe Faculty of Medicine was initially established in1956. The medical course is undertaken at the CrawleyCampus of the University and the community healthcentres, and in the following hospitals: Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital, Bentley Hospital,Fremantle Hospital, Graylands Hospital, HollywoodPrivate Hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, KingEdward Memorial Hospital for Women, Osborne ParkHospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,Rockingham General Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital,Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Swan District Hospitaland St John of God Hospital (Subiaco).The Faculty of Dentistry, originally name Faculty ofDental Science, was established in 1946. Teaching isundertaken at the Crawley Campus of the University, inthe Oral Health Centre of Western Australia complex atthe Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre and at PrincessMargaret Hospital for Children. The combined Facultyis now known as the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry andHealth Sciences.Specific information on the Faculty may be found atwww.meddent.uwa.edu.auSchool of Medicine and PharmacologyOne of the largest and most complex Schools in theUniversity, Medicine and Pharmacology is locatedat four primary sites and supports medical, dentaland science teaching disciplines. A close clinicalliaison with several teaching and private hospitals ismaintained, with teaching contributions delivered byover 250 clinical accorded status consulting physicians.Research activities range from NHMRC, ARC andother competitive grants to large-scale clinical trials,government sponsored Centres of Excellence, and aCo-operative Research Centre (CRC).The RPH Unit of the School of Medicine andPharmacology supports 15 clinical academic staff(in the specialties of respiratory medicine, cardiology,diabetes and endocrinology, renal medicine,cardiometabolic medicine and lipid disorders,internal medicine, geriatric medicine, oncology andrheumatology), and 15 senior research only staff, (5Research Professors in the discipline of Biochemistry,Systems Biology, Nutrition and Clinical Trials) and 5sessional clinical teaching staff. The RPH Unit has21 general and technical staff and 34 senior clinicalaccorded status staff and approximately 70 clinicalteaching staff within Royal Perth Hospital and 17postgraduate students currently enrolled. Major clinicaland laboratory research interests in the Unit includecardiovascular disease, lipid disorders, hypertension,clinical nutrition and infectious respiratory diseases.06 | meddent.uwa.edu.au

RPH Medical Research Foundationand Royal Perth HospitalMedical Research FoundationThe RPH Medical Research Foundation (MRF) is anot-for-profit organisation that has been investing inbiomedical research for over 20 years, focused initially ina 6 storey research block at the RPH campus dedicatedto academic biomedical research and more recently intocore infrastructure and personnel. The MRF buildinghas been the epicentre and powerhouse of research onthe RPH campus, with a concentration of high qualityinvestigators performing a mixture of clinical and basicscience, epidemiology and biostatistical research, froma range of institutions, including UWA and the WesternAustralian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).The clinical academic presence in the MRF buildinghas fostered a rich interaction and integration betweenMRF building-based research activities and RPH clinicalresearch. Thus, the MRF has played a central role tobring together a critical mass of high quality researchteams from a range of diverse organizations in the MRFbuilding, fostering new collaborations and research thathas clinically relevant outcomes.The RPH campus has a world-class clinical researchtrack record in cardiometabolic and diabetic medicine,hypertension, clinical nutrition, geriatrics and strokemedicine. The successful candidate will preferably needto be an expert in one of these areas to complementthe critical mass of researchers already in place, butapplicants from other disciplines may be considered.Thus, they will substantially value-add to a growingand highly productive campus.Royal Perth HospitalRoyal Perth Hospital (RPH) is Western Australia’slongest-serving hospital. Its origins date back to theold Colonial Hospital, which was established onGarden Island in 1829.RPH is Perth’s most established and largest teachinghospital with a proud history of high quality tertiaryclinical care and a strong clinical research culture,evidenced by the >150 trials underway in the hospitalat any one time.Today, RPH is one of Australia’s largest and busiesthospitals with the second largest trauma workload in thecountry and one of the busiest Emergency Departmentsin Australasia.The 833 bed hospital spreads across two campuses –The Wellington Street Campus, which is centrally locatedin the City of Perth, and the Shenton Park Campus,situated in the western suburbs. RPH is part of theSouth Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), one of thefastest growing health services in Western Australia.As a premier teaching hospital, RPH provides servicesto adults in all clinical fields (except obstetrics). It isrenowned for contributing to innovation and excellencein medical research and services.The University of Western Australia | 07

Western Australiaand PerthThe resource-rich State of Western Australia isthe economic powerhouse of Australia. WesternAustralia is the principal Australian supplier ofnatural resources and energy to internationalpartners, including China, India, Japan, SouthKorea and much of South-East Asia. WesternAustralia’s diverse inventory of minerals andenergy, as well as its agricultural and fisheriesresources, account for 25 per cent of the nation’sexports and place the State at the heart ofAustralian economic growth and transformation.Perth is a cosmopolitan city, with wide ethnic andcultural diversity. The city centre is on the Swan River12 kilometres from the Indian Ocean port of Fremantle.The city enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with morehours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia.Summers are hot and dry and the winters mild and wet.Perth’s world-famous beaches and rivers, extensiveparklands and variety of restaurants and cafes providea superb living environment. For more information see:tourism.wa.gov.auPerth is well served with art galleries, theatres andcinemas and is home to the WA Symphony Orchestra,the WA Ballet and the WA Opera. The cultural highlight ofthe year is the Perth International Arts Festival, foundedand owned by The University of Western Australia –uwa.edu.au/perthfestivalWestern Australia’s five universities and wide varietyof public and private schools, vocational institutionsand English language colleges provide quality assurededucation with flexible study pathways and state-of-theartfacilities. Perth continues to build its reputation as adestination for international students seeking a qualityeducation – pertheducationcity.com.auApplicationsThank you for your interest. If you wish to proceed, thefollowing information will assist you with your application.Refer also to the selection criteria on page 5.There are no specific application forms to complete.Your application must include the following:• A statement that clearly demonstrates the extent towhich you satisfy each of the selection criteria;• A curriculum vitae that provides your personal details,qualifications and work history;• A list of any publications;• The names, email, mailing addresses and thetelephone contact details of three referees who canbe contacted for a confidential report. Please notethat your permission will be sought before refereesare contacted.Please also note: If you are the successful candidatefor this position and you are not an Australian or NewZealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia,you will be required to obtain an entry visa to workhere. The University of Western Australia will sponsoryou for employment in Australia under the EmployerNomination Scheme.08 | meddent.uwa.edu.au

Lodging your applicationELECTRONICALLY – Send your application as an emailattachment to: toni.pilgrim@uwa.edu.auPlease include in the subject line:Dobney Chair in Clinical Research, Ref 4119BY MAIL – Please address your application packageas follows:Ms Toni Pilgrim (Ref 4119)Human Resources M350The University of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayCrawley 6009Western AustraliaClosing dateThe closing date for applications isFriday, 19 October 2012Enquiries and further informationIf you wish to discuss the position in confidence,please contact:Winthrop Professor Gerald WattsHead of Royal Perth Hospital UnitSchool of Medicine and PharmacologyRoyal Perth HospitalTelephone: +61 8 9224 0245Mobile: +61 415 698 140Email: gerald.watts@uwa.edu.auOrEmeritus Professor Lawrie BeilinChair, RPH Medical Research FoundationMobile: +61 413 454 868Email: lawrie.beilin@uwa.edu.auCRICOS Provider Code: 00126GThe University of Western Australia | 09

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