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The CAHE management team

 

The CAHE management team is comprised of dedicated professionals who are focused on bringing evidence-based practice to allied health locally, nationally and globally

 

 

Professor Karen Grimmer-Somers, CAHE Director

Professor Karen Grimmer is one of the architects behind the Centre for Allied Health Evidence (CAHE). In 2003 Karen and 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 CAHE 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 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.

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 is the Director of the Centre for Allied Health Evidence (CAHE) and is leading the way internationally for Allied Health clinicians around the world.

 

  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 deputy director of CAHE and welcomes the opportunity to further evidence-based allied health practices.

 

Ms Catherine Turnbull, Principal AH Advisor, DoHSA

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 w as 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 w hen this role became available. Catherine feels that defining a clear structure for AH is vital to ensure AH are part of the DH’s reform agenda which includes a w hole of government approach and clinical networks. DH support for AH has also been reflected in the recent appointment of a
Senior AH Advisor (Country Health SA). Catherine will work with this position and others in AH, 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 AH including registration of certain professions, inter-professional learning ( IPL), competencies and allied health assistants. It is Catherine’s aim to ensure that AH have a clear voice as well as the opportunity to provide leadership on these matters. She is also committed to listening and working with AH professional associations and boards, as w ell as national organisations such as Allied Health Professions Australia and the National AH Advisory Committee.

 

Associate Professor Alan Crockett,  Director, Primary Care Respiratory Unit,,The University of Adelaide

Associate Professor Alan J Crockett has worked with the Centre for Allied Health Evidence since its launch in August 2003 as advisor on the CAHE Steering Committee.  He 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 healthâ�� in the Order of Australia Awards for Australia Day 2003.

Qualifications: MPH, PhD, Grad Cert HE,FANZSRS
 

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