The Unfinished Revolution: Systems Thinking and the Soul of Medicine
David Maddison lecture flyer
Join Conjoint Professor Joachim Sturmberg of the University of Newcastle for the 2026 David Maddison Memorial Lecture. This year’s lecture will provide a thought-provoking exploration of how systems thinking can reshape the future of healthcare. Drawing on decades of clinical practice and pioneering research, the talk will examine the complexity of health, the importance of genuine doctor–patient partnerships, and the urgent need to redesign health systems to be more person-centred, equitable, and sustainable.
After more than thirty years in active family practice at Wamberal Surgery on the NSW Central Coast, Joachim has retired from general practice while continuing to provide care for nursing home patients, maintaining the commitment to continuity of care that first animated his research three decades ago. He is Foundation President of the International Society for Systems and Complexity Sciences for Health (ISSCSH), and co-editor-in-chief of the Forum on Systems and Complexity in Medicine and Healthcare in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. He remains actively involved in the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and co-leads special interest groups in complexity in both WONCA and NAPCRG.
His research has been foundational in establishing systems and complexity sciences as a rigorous framework for understanding health, healthcare delivery, and health system design. He is the co-editor of the Handbook of Systems and Complexity in Health and author of Health System Redesign: How to Make Health Care Person-Centered, Equitable, and Sustainable. Recent work spans the interconnected physiological dimensions of multimorbidity, the philosophy of causation in clinical medicine, the conditions for genuine physician–patient partnership, and the application of systems thinking to pandemic preparedness and long-term care policy. He has been invited to speak on these themes across Europe, Asia, and North America, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed numerous book chapters to the field.
Event Information
- Date: This in person event will be held on Wednesday 5 August 2026 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- Duration: 90mins
- Location: Industry Engagement Space, University of Newcastle Central Coast Campus - Gosford Central, 299 Mann St, Gosford NSW. Livestream option available.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.