Leading respiratory nursing researcher awarded TSANZ Fellowship
Professor Vanessa McDonald is the first and only nurse to have been awarded the title of Fellow of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (FThorSoc) for her excellence in respiratory health research.
Vanessa is a national and international leader in respiratory nursing and research, with a 20 year career dedicated to clinical practice, research, education and patient advocacy.
Co-Director of the NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Severe Asthma and Deputy Director of the Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Vanessa was the University of Newcastle’s first ever appointment to the position of Professor of Nursing in Chronic Disease.
After completing her PhD in 2011, Vanessa embarked on a research career and has rapidly established herself as a leading clinical researcher in her field. With upwards of 80 publications, Vanessa has also followed a steep research communication trajectory.
Vanessa was recently invited by the Editors of Respirology to be a series editor for a review series in severe asthma.
Leading a translational research program which links biomedicine, clinical effectiveness and health policy development, Vanessa investigates innovative approaches to the management of chronic diseases.
Vanessa has developed local training programs for asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis and delivered these nationally and to clinicians in the Hunter New England Health Service.
Mentor to many early career researchers, Vanessa is committed to building the next generation of clinical researchers in respiratory health.
Within her translational research program, Vanessa leads a multidisciplinary team of seven RHD students, two Honours students, two post-doctoral fellows and four research assistants.
Vanessa’s successful track record in funding totals over $5 million and includes successful NHMRC funding, a prestigious Ramaciotti Foundation early career establishment grant and an esteemed Lung Foundation of Australia COPD Research Award.
A long-term advocate for lung disease and translation of evidence into health policy, practice and education, Vanessa has contributed to national clinical practice guidelines, national reports, multimedia resources and national patient education publications.
The Fellowship was announced at the TSANZ AGM which took place on Saturday 25th March at 5pm at the TSANZSRS Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Canberra.
Related news
- Launch of the School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment
- Funding boost to technology for lower emission steel
- Newcastle team on mission to improve childhood cancer outcomes
- Shanae’s passion for caring delivers her dream to work in health
- Food and nutrition degree serves Keren a rewarding career
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.