Message from the Executive Dean

As the COVID-19 pandemic becomes less prominent globally, a new and growing challenge in health care is becoming more evident – a health professional workforce crisis. A discrepancy between the demand and supply of health professionals, particularly nurses and doctors, has been present for many years. This deficit is growing under the dual pressures of increasing demand and static or reducing supply. It is time for health and education systems to work with all levels of government to address this challenge through aligned health professional training and support. This is particularly relevant to our regional, rural and remote areas. 

In this edition of UQmedicine, we feature a series of articles presenting the lives of those who have embarked on a medical career from a rural context. Jessica Mills began her journey to an MD-PhD program from a variety of locations through Central Queensland and the Darling Downs with her much loved chickens. Lauren, Rowan and Jasmine Pienaar have all joined the medical profession from their Maryborough home – where they had not envisaged such a pathway through their childhood.

Professor Darrell Crawford has acknowledged the importance of supporting those from rural areas to join UQ through the establishment of the Crawford Family Scholarship, which acknowledges his journey from Baralaba in Central Queensland. Finally, we tell some stories of those who have completed our Rural Immersion Program where, over 4 days, they gained insights into the needs of rural communities.

All these stories are an excellent reflection of UQ’s Queensland Commitment and the need to reach out and support able students from rural environments to join us at UQ and to give back to their local communities. In the remainder of UQmedicine we feature our wonderful researchers, their passion and impact. We begin with a feature on Professor Jason Roberts, pharmacist by training, who has dedicated his research career to refining the optimal approach to using antibiotics in the intensive care setting. His work with researchers such as Emeritus Professor Jeffrey Lipman, Dr Patrick Harris and Professor David Paterson, all from UQCCR, has made a meaningful difference to the outcomes of some of our sickest patients. We also present vignettes of some of our extremely talented early-career researchers working in telehealth, mental health, cancer, aged care and infectious diseases.

Finally, we present the important changes to the promotion process for our all-important Academic Title Holders (ATHs). We now have a clear and manageable process to reward all of our ATHs for their teaching, research and clinical eminence and impact.

UQmedicine features the wonderful people who make up our brilliant and impactful family, who will ultimately improve the lives of the communities we serve.

Professor Geoff McColl
Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine