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Monday 13 October 2014

Monash students Jennifer Tang and Jarrel Seah meet Bill Gates

Two Monash University medical students have had the incredible opportunity to meet Microsoft Founder Bill Gates.

Jarrel Seah and Jennifer Tang beat more than 33,000 students worldwide to take out the top prize in the Microsoft Imagine Cup for their selfie app for anaemia.

Jarrel and Jennifer's Eyenaemia app is a simple, non-invasive and easily accessible screening tool for anaemia.

Premier Denis Napthine pledges $120m for specialist cardiac wing at Monash Medical Centre - Herald Sun

Australia’s first specialised cardiac hospital will be based at Melbourne’s MonashHeart under a State Government plan.  Full story here.

Novel medical device developed by SCS surgeon

A novel bi-directional cannula that prevents severe complications following cardiac surgery has been developed by School of Clinical Sciences’ Mr Randall Moshinsky.

A Department of Surgery Adjunct Senior Lecturer and Monash Health Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mr Moshinsky has recently patented the device in the US that will enable safer cardiopulmonary bypass procedures and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support of the circulation and respiration.

Mr Moshinsky’s two co-inventors of the device are Mr James McMillan, Head of Perfusion Services Pty Ltd and cardiac anaesthetist Dr Elli Tutungi. Perfusion Services operates the clinical perfusion service for the cardiothoracic surgery unit at Monash Medical Centre. Dr Tutungi, a Monash University graduate, is former Director of Anaesthesia and Co-ordinator of the Cardiac Anaesthetic Unit at Monash Medical Centre.

Mindfulness to help depression

A program combining mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy to prevent depressive relapse is being offered at Dandenong Hospital in Victoria.

The eight-week program will offer techniques and tools to prevent relapse for those who have had three or more major episodes of depression but are currently well. 

The program is being offered by Monash University researchers, who earlier this year published a study into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). 

The research backed up other studies that found that MBCT was effective in preventing relapse of major depressive episodes. It also found that MBCT was effective when combined with other specialist care or antidepressants. 

Professor David Clarke appointed Monash Health Program Medical Director for Mental Health

Eminent psychiatrist Professor David Clarke has officially been appointed Monash Health Program Medical Director (PMD) for Mental Health.

A highly respected academic psychiatrist and clinician, David has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to Monash University and Monash Health over the last 25 years.

David has significant expertise in the areas of depression, depression in the presence of physical illness, and psychological factors contributing to the physicall illness (or psychosomatics).  His research has clearly defined subtypes of depression in the medically ill, in particular, identifying and describing the phenomena of demoralisation.

Jo Enticott awarded 2014 APHCRI / ICES International Visiting Fellowship

Congratulations to Dr Joanne Enticott on being awarded the 2014 APHCRI / ICES International Visiting Fellowship.

Jo was awarded $20,000 for her research  project ‘Primary health care for mental health: An analysis of Ontario health service activity rates by socio-economic measures’.

Jo will spend 3 months in Canada next year to generate new research examining primary care mental health care access and activity rates.  Canada has similar primary health care network organisational structures as Australia. 

"Unlike in Australia, Canadian health researchers have a long history of conducting population-level epidemiological research because access to regional and national health data is possible," said Jo. 

"The skills and networks acquired from the Canadian visit to ICES will inform my future Australian analyses to a high level not previously possible."

Neurology/Stroke Grand Round -15 October 2014

"Dementia and Type 2 Diabetes - at the crossroads of neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease" Presented by Associate Professor Velandai Srikanth        
Wednesday 15th October 2014 at 12.30pm, Main Lecture Theatre, MMC, Clayton 
See flyer for details.

Special Ethics Educational Event: The Hypothetical: Pandemics, Ethics and Emergencies

A group of Australia’s leading experts have been invited to form a guest panel from the areas of ethics, medical professions, health care administration and public health policy development for this Hypothetical including eminent Australian ethicist Emeritus Professor Tony Coady.

The Hypothetical will be held on Thu 13 Nov 2014 between 5.30-6.30pm in LT2, Monash Medical Centre Clayton. This event is free to all staff and students of the Monash Health Translation Precinct. 
Please see flyer attached and please see details to register your attendance for this event. 
Should you have any queries, please email: mededucation@monashhealth.org


Ritchie Centre's Annual Kaarene Fitzgerald Public Lecture - November 10 at Monash Medical Centre

The Kaarene Fitzgerald public lectures were established at The Ritchie Centre in 2004 in recognition of the outstanding contributions that Kaarene made in over 25 years of service to medical research into the causes and prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Kaarene was passionate in her belief that research will provide solutions for SIDS and that research findings will be translated into clinical practice. See flyer for details.

Communication Skills Workshops October - November


Monash Doctors Education are pleased to provide the following Communication Skills Workshops from September - November:
Please register your attendance early as places are limited. Monash Doctors Education at Mededucation@monashhealth.org or Phone: 9594 3743

October
Date
Time
Location
Room
What to Do and Say When Things go Wrong
Oct-07
1400-1730
Casey
Seminar room
How to Have a Family Meeting
Oct-14
1400-1700
DH
Clinical Meeting Rm
Communicating with the Angry/ Upset Patient and their Carers
Oct-15
1600-1800
DH
Clinical Meeting Room
Communicating with the Angry/ Upset Patient and their Carers
Oct-29
1600-1800
MMC
Children’s Seminar Room
November
Date
Time
Location
Room
Communicating with Children
Nov-18
1600-1800
MMC
McCulloch Lecture theatre
How to Have a Family Meeting
Nov-19
1400-1700
Kingston
Room A Education Centre
What to Do and Say When Things go Wrong
Nov-25
1400-1730
MMC
Children’s Seminar Room

Vaccinating health care workers against influenza: ethics and evidence, Thursday 6th November 5.30-6.30pm

Please save the date to hear a very topical and exciting presentation by Professor Heath Kelly, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory exploring the ethics and evidence involved in the controversial proposal to initiate compulsory health care vaccination.  Details here.

Staff Developmen​t workshop: Leadership and management developmen​t (level 2)

Staff Development have places available for the Leadership & management development workshop (suitable for Hew Level 8 - 10, and Academic Level A-C). 

Date:  Wednesday 22 October, Thursday 23 October and Friday 24 October 2014
Time:  9:00am - 5:00pm
Venue: Hotel IBIS, 297 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley

The Leadership and Management Development Program for experienced managers aims to develop the knowledge and skills of Monash University managers with a specific focus on strategic, task and people abilities and the application of these capabilities in day-to-day work. 

Genzyme Thyroid Cancer Masterclass: 24-25 October

Endocrinology, Nuclear Medicine, General Surgery
Rydges Hotel, 186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October


   


IOF 5th Asia Pacific Meeting, Taipei, November 14-16

Organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association (TOA)
We invite you to attend the leading educational and research forum for osteoporosis and related diseases in the Asia-Pacific region” 
Meeting Chairs: Cyrus Cooper, GBR and Rong-Sen Yang, TWN
  • Hear renowned faculty comprised of leading experts from around the world.
  • Take part in a high quality scientific programme of direct relevance to clinical practice
  • Discuss with the experts – Opportunity for Q&A
  • Learn about the latest research from the Asia-Pacific region and abroad
  • Earn CME Credits EACCME Accreditation
  • Network with colleagues from throughout the region
  • Keep informed – attend the industry symposia and visit the exhibition hall

Shionogi Science Program 2014 - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

The Shionogi pharmaceutical company in Japan is very keen to receive expressions of interest from Australian researchers for the Shionogi Science Program 2014 which provides between AUD50,000 to AUD150,000 per year for up to 5 years.  Please refer to the “Details of recruitment” (areas of research interest) in the attached flyer and some useful FAQs at http://www.shionogi.co.jp/ssp/.

Submission closing date:  Friday 31 October 2014





Call for Nominations: Australia Korea Emerging Research Leaders Exchange Program 2015

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) has recently released a call for applications from mid-career researchers
​ ​
(<20 years post-PhD) who are emerging leaders in the Science and Technology community. For further information including eligibility requirements and how to apply please visit the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering(ATSE) website 

Grant Opportunities from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now inviting applications for three new Grand Challenges:

1.      Putting Women and Girls at the Center of Development
This new Grand Challenge focuses on how to effectively reach and empower the most vulnerable women and girls to improve health and development – including economic – outcomes as well as gender equality.
This new Grand Challenge focuses on new measurement tools and new combinations of approaches to ensure all children thrive – that they not only survive, but also have the chance to live healthy productive lives.
This new Grand Challenge focuses on innovative concepts for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics with the potential to be translated into safe, effective, affordable, and widely utilized interventions to protect against the acquisition, progression, or transmission of infectious diseases, or to provide a cure for infectious diseases, in resource‐limited settings.

2.      Creating and Measuring Integrated Solutions for Healthy Birth, Growth, and Development (part of the All Children Thriving platform)
3.      New Interventions for Global Health
Applications for these new challenges will be accepted from 4 November 2014 and the application deadline is 13 January 2015.

US Funding - Uniform Guidance, 27 October

Denise Clark, Associate Vice President for Research Administration, University of Maryland, has been invited to present a workshop to ​academic and ​professional staff on United States (US) funding. The session is critical because it will provide guidance on recent changes to pre and post award management of US funding. 
Venue: Elisabeth Murdoch-Theatre A, ​ The University of Melbourne
Date: Monday 27 October 2014
Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm

Professional staff should register through ARMS.  
This new guidance is applicable to all new federal awards and funding increments beginning December 26, 2014, including any funded collaborations with international partners. See attached flyer for details.

High Commission of Canada - Research Funding presentation, Melbourne University, 20 October

The High Commission of Canada is hosting a public seminar on research funding opportunities in Canada.  This presentation will provide information on Canadian research grants in all disciplines available to academic staff and postgraduate students. It will cover funding available from Canada’s three major federal research councils – the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).  The High Commission of Canada will  also provide information on the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, and other grants offered by some of the provinces, as well as other non-government organizations.

veski bulletin: Reminder applications sought for two fellowships

·         Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships - closing 30 October

·       veski innovation fellowships - closing 14 November

If you know of a colleague who would be interested in applying,
please send them this information and encourage them to apply.
More details here.

PhD topup scholarships - Nutrition and Dietetics

In 2015, the Dept. of Nutrition & Dietetics is offering Top Up scholarships for students who are successful in obtaining either an Australian Post Graduate Award or equivalent scholarship for their Phd studies. These are worth $8000 per year and are tax free stipends.

Projects are chosen from either clinical or community/population nutrition areas and are supervised by an experienced member of the Nutrition and Dietetics staff. Typical project areas include: Clinical dietetics including paediatrics; Sport and exercise nutrition; Functional foods; Sleep, nutrition and metabolism; Weight loss and maintenance; Appetite regulation; Community and population nutrition.

Please see the individual PhD projects at: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/scs/nutrition-dietetics/documents/nd-topup-phd-projects-2015.pdf  Potential applicants should contact the supervisors of the projects they are interested in to seek further information.


Please apply via Monash Institute of Graduate Research by 30th October 2014. Please follow the instructions on the MIGR website.

Seeking Healthy Male Volunteers for the INKDROP Study (IntraNasal pharmacoKinetics of DROPeridol)

The aim of this study is to study whether a medication called Droperidol, can be absorbed effectively using an intranasal spray. Droperidol, administered intravenously or by injection, is approved in Australia as an antipsychotic, to treat acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) and nausea and vomiting. Further details are attached here.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact a study researcher (Professor Andis Graudins or Dr Isabelle Cooper) on 9554-9340 or email andis.graudins@monashhealth.org.

Join us for Ride 2 Work Day - this Wednesday 15 October

Ride2Work is the largest national ride to work program of its kind. Our regular riders would like to invite you to join them on riding to work on this day. If you would like assistance in planning your safest route from home (or somewhere nearer) please feel free to give us a call or email (see addresses below).

Ride 2 Work Day at the MHTP is going to be sponsored this year by Zouki. They will be providing a fantastic breakfast for those participating in the de Kretser Concourse from 8:30am.

Please register by Tuesday 14 October by clicking here. Join the MHTP team, by filling in the 'Travelling to' section with "MHTP" and street address "27-31 Wright St, Clayton".

Your workplace coordinators are
Ann Scott (MIMR-PHI Institute) - ann.scott@mimr-phi.org

Katherine Greenberg (School of Clinical Sciences) - katherine.greenberg@monash.edu

Monash GLOBAL walk/run - 2014


All staff are invited to take a step toward better health and participate in the Monash GLOBAL walk/run.
Wellbeing at Monash, Monash Sport and Team Monash are proud to present the 6th bi-annual Global Walk/Run, supporting Men's Health.

The Global walk/run will be held from 12.15-1pm on Monday, 27 October 2014 across Victorian Monash campuses and sites. Those interested in participating can register online for the GLOBAL 3km walk or 5km run.

Increase in Hoax and Phishing Emails

IT Services wishes to advise that Monash Health have recently been the target of Phishing and Hoax emails. These emails at first may seem legitimate are focused around obtaining your login, financial and\or personal information.

Please be advised that you should never open any attachment or click on any link, if you are not familiar with the sender. If you suspect that the email may in fact be a hoax then it most likely is and should be deleted immediately.

IT Services will never send out an email requesting your login credentials or personal information.

Additional Questions/Queries?  

Contact IT Service Desk on ext.47255 (Option 1) or log a call via the Intranet Portal