Management team
Professor Karen Grimmer-Somers iCAHE Director
Professor Karen Grimmer-Somers is one of the architects behind the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence. In 2003 Karen and a team of allied health researchers and clinicians from the University of South Australia tendered for a multidisciplinary collaborative centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute. This bid was successful, and iCAHE is the first centre of its kind in the world.
Currently holding the position of Director, Centre for Allied Health Evidence, Karen is based at the University of South Australia, and has already played a significant role in introducing evidence-based practice into allied health areas. The author and lecturer for the Research Summer School (incorporating the subjects Health Research Methods and Biostatistics and Evidence-based Research), Karen is a significant participant in furthering best practice initiatives.
Karen holds a PhD (Epidemiology) Menzies Centre, University of Tasmania), Master of Medical Science (Research) (University of Tasmania), Certificate of Health Economics (Monash University), Licentiate in Music (Performance) (Australian Music Examinations Board) and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (University of Queensland).
Karen has been published in over 60 professional peer-reviewed journals around the world and has produced over 20 technical reports on projects with which she has been associated. She is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences, where she presents on her extensive research and insightful work in the areas of Physiotherapy, allied health, research analysis and training.
Karen has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition throughout her extensive career, including the Chancellor’s Award for Community Service, University of South Australia: ( 1998, Grimmer K, Williams M, Gill T and Dansie B: Adolescents and load carrying) and the Award for Excellence in Research (Higher Degrees) in 2000.
Professor Esther May Head of School, School of Health Sciences
In late in 2002 Professor Esther May was appointed Head of the School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. The School of Health Sciences formed from a merger of fours schools (Physiotherapy/Podiatry, Medical Radiations, Physical Education Exercise/Sports Studies and Occupational Therapy) and has over 1600 students and about 100 staff.
Esther is a member of the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, American Society of Hand Therapists and World Federation of Occupational Therapists, and an Honorary Member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. She holds a Diploma of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy, and a PhD (Medical Sciences) from the University of Göteborg, Sweden. Esther is also currently the Australian delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
With a focus on rehabilitation, assessment of function and participation, health service delivery, allied health education, upper limb dysfunction and treatment Esther has dedicated her work to the improvement of allied health services and evidence-based research. Esther is delighted to be a
part of the iCAHE management team and welcomes the opportunity to further evidence-based allied health practices.
Ms
Catherine Turnbull Principal Allied Health Advisor, Department
of Health, South Australia
The South Australian Department of Health (DH) appointed Catherine Turnbull as its new Principal Allied Health Advisor in late 2006. Catherine represents allied health services and came to Adelaide with a wealth of experience from her career in New South Wales’ allied health arena. After completing her Bachelor degree (Social Work) in 1991, Catherine’s career spanned the paediatric social work team at Westmead Hospital, Deputy Head of Department at The Children’s Hospital (Camperdown) and Head of Department at the New Childrens’ Hospital (Westmead). In 2000 she was employed as Director (Social Work) with the Central Sydney Area Health Service, moving to the posit ion of A/Deputy Director (Allied Health) for Sydney South West Area Health Service in 2006.
Her involvement in professional associations include: President, Allied Health Alliance (NSW), Chair, Professional Vocational Committee (Health Services Union) and State President , Australian Association of Social Workers (NSW). Having just completed her Masters (Public Administration) Catherine was on the search for a role she could truly embrace. With the ‘mountains’ (Adelaide Hills) and the sea only 20 minutes apart and of course the glorious epicurean delights of SA, the decision to move to Adelaide seemed obvious when this role became available.
Catherine feels that defining a clear structure for allied health is vital to ensure allied health are part of the DH’s reform agenda which includes a w hole of government approach and clinical networks. DH support for allied health has also been reflected in the recent appointment of a Senior allied health advisor (Country Health SA). Catherine will work with this position and others in allied health, to provide advice to the CE (DH), Dr Tony Sherbon and SA’s Minister for Health, the Hon John Hill MP. Catherine stated that there are currently a number of state and national issues regarding allied health including registration of certain professions, inter-professional learning, competencies and allied health assistants. It is Catherine’s aim to ensure that allied health have a clear voice as well as the opportunity to provide leadership on these matters. She is also committed to listening and working with allied health professional associations and boards, as well as national organisations such as Allied Health Professions Australia and the National Allied Health Advisory Committee.
Associate Professor Alan Crockett University of Adelaide, Australia
Associate Professor Alan Crockett recently retired from the position of Chief Medical Scientist, Respiratory Unit at Flinders Medical Centre after a career in Respiratory Medicine spanning 41 years. Alan currently holds a fractional-time position of Associate Professor, Director, Primary Care Respiratory Unit within the Discipline of General Practice, the University of Adelaide.
Alan was elected Fellow of the Australian Institute of Science Technology in 1976. More recently, he was awarded Life Membership and elected a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Respiratory Science and awarded the status of Emeritus Member of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand for his contribution to respiratory medicine. He was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding contribution to community health in the Order of Australia Awards for Australia Day 2003.