RESEARCHER PROFILE (Filmed November 2023)
Dr Brendan Shannon
Head of Postgraduate Programs
Monash University
Melbourne, Australia
Dr Brendan Shannon is a registered paramedic and Head of Postgraduate Programs and Deputy Head of Department of Paramedicine at Monash University.
Transitioning from 12 years clinical work as a paramedic to academia, Dr. Brendan Shannon understands the importance of research and education in the field of healthcare. He became a paramedic, pursued higher education, and transitioned into academia while still maintaining a clinical workload.
Brendan has balanced clinical and academic experience throughout his career and his research is closely informed by paramedicine practice.
Brendan has a keen research interest in alternative care pathways, non-transport, referral services, paramedic practitioners and community paramedicine. His Doctoral research focused on investigating the experiences of health services when implementing alternative care pathways.
These pathways are designed to deliver care in community settings for populations that are traditionally underserved. The programs examined were found to effectively address complex patients’ needs in community settings.
Dr. Shannon is driven to help people’s lives be better, particularly those who don’t have the privileges as others. His focus is on treating underserved communities with chronic diseases and complex social conditions, who frequently use healthcare services, through community paramedicine programs, as well as patients who frequently utilise healthcare services like the emergency department.
“The intersection of chronic disease and complex social conditions presents a unique challenge in healthcare. Researching programs to increase access to care for underserved patients within the community is a big umbrella term with lots of avenues to explore”, says Dr Shannon.
Apart from research, having a purpose to help others and teaching, Dr Shannon has a passion for restoring old cars nurtured from family influences. He also takes part in amateur martial arts, in particular Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
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Medically Complex Pregnancies
A/Prof Shelley Wilkinson is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Fellow of Dietitians Australia, and a leading Australian researcher in maternal health and implementation science.
She has over 30 years of experience in the field and holds a PhD in Psychology. Her passion is in health service redesign through co-creation and combining the ‘know-what’ of nutrition with the ‘know-how’ of innovative behaviour change techniques.
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Investigating invasive lobular carcinoma and metaplastic breast cancer sub-types
Assoc Prof McCart Reed is the scientific lead on an MRFF-funded (Medical Research Future Fund) genomics program investigating the potential for the application of Whole Genome Sequencing in the breast cancer care pathway in Australia, ‘Q-IMPROvE’. She applies genomics and spatial transcriptomics methodologies to archival clinical samples to understand the differences between tumour types and their potential for treatment. Amy is passionate about clinical research, biobanking and precision oncology. In addition to her breast cancer research portfolio, she is on the steering committee for the Brisbane Breast Bank and the Scientific Advisory Board for Breast Cancer Trials.
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New models of care and value in General Practice
Dr Michael Wright is a GP, health economist and health services researcher. Dr Wright currently works as a portfolio GP, combining clinical practice with strategic appointments (most recently with RACGP, Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network, Avant Mutual the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) and academic research analysing the effects of current health policy on the quality and performance of primary care.
