Dr Abhijit Chowdhury
Research student
Career Summary
Biography
An aspiring Clinical Epidemiologist and a passionate Medical Educator with a lifelong motto to help patients and contribute to the development of the medical workforce globally.
Current Affiliation:
Dr Abhijit Chowdhury is a final year PhD candidate in Clinical Epidemiology & Medical Statistics at the University of Newcastle Australia (UON). He was an Associate Lecturer in Medical Education (2019-2022) at the UON Callaghan campus. In these two capacities, he worked with the Centre For Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Hunter Medical Research Institute) and the Joint Medical Program (Phase: 01, UON). In the 2022-23 academic year, Abhijit was a Lecturer in Medical Education at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
PhD Project:
Abhijit's doctoral project examines the impact of depression, anxiety and antidepressant medications on the risk of osteoporosis and fractures among adult Australians.
Research has shown a higher risk of osteoporosis and/or fracture among people with depression/anxiety than people without depression/anxiety. Studies also suggested that serotonergic antidepressants can impact the bones negatively. Different biological and behavioural factors have been implicated in the relationship between depression/anxiety/antidepressant medications and osteoporosis/fracture, yet inconclusive.
To understand this relationship in the Australian context and add more to the current evidence base, Abhijit analyses the health data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health and the Hunter Community Study, two Australia-based cohort studies.
You can learn about Abhijit's research here-
CRCA Early Career Researcher Showcase 2018
Sydney ResBaz 2018 Lightning Talk (Macquarie University)
As part of the PhD program, Abhijit completed four courses in Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics with two distinctions (75% or over marks) and two high distinctions (85% or over marks). These courses formed a strong foundation for his research work during his PhD. During the PhD confirmation process in 2017, all of Abhijit's confirmation panellists remarked his presentation as 'outstanding', demonstrating his sound understanding of the research project.
In 2019, Abhijit's PhD project results were accepted at six Australian conferences for presentations. He presented the results at the 2019 Australian Society for Medical Research Satellite Scientific Meeting and Australian Public Health Conference 2019.
In 2023, Abhijit presented his research at the UON HDR Student Festival. His presentation ranked the top among twenty-two oral exhibits in the Clinical Care, Health Behaviour, or Implementation Science category.
Teaching at UON:
As an Associate Lecturer at UON, Abhijit facilitated face-to-face and online clinical skills sessions and problem-based learning tutorials (PBL) for year one, two and three medical students. He also assessed the objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) for UON Phase: 01 students; assessed the multiple skills assessment interviews for JMP admission; wrote examination items (MCQ), and marked assignments.
Abhijit is highly skilled in online teaching using Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate and Skype. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he facilitated two hundred hours of online clinical skills sessions/assessments/PBL tutorials (March 2020 to August 2021) for the JMP year two and one students.
In 2020, Abhijit was a guest lecturer for the Research for Medical Professionals Part A course. In 2021, Abhijit joined the newly established Central Coast Clinical School as a clinical skills tutor.
Teaching and Learning Internship at UON:
In 2017, Abhijit was one of the five UON School of Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Learning Internship awardees. As a part of the internship, throughout 2018, he attended three courses on university teaching, assessment, and clinical teaching and supervision. During the internship, he joined The Academy of Clinical Educators.
As a Teaching and Learning Intern, Abhijit tutored the year-three General Practice and Subspecialties courses. He also supervised five year-three medical students placed overseas for the Health Equity Selectives course.
During this internship, Abhijit's extensive learning experience ultimately paved the way to join as a UON academic in 2019.
Supervision Experience:
Abhijit got his first taste as a research supervisor during the Teaching and Learning Internship. In 2021, he was a statistical supervisor for four year-four medical students for the MD research project "Does the MD make a difference to Professional Identity?"
Other Experience:
Abhijit is a strong supporter of inclusion and diversity. He is an ALLY at UON. In 2022, he was selected as a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the UON College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing.
Abhijit was a Peer Mentor at UON. He has been mentoring medical students since 2005 and has accumulated broad experience as a student mentor.
Before moving to Australia to pursue a PhD, Abhijit was a Lecturer of Pathology at the Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Bangladesh. He had postgraduate Internal Medicine and Endocrinology training and practised as a General Practitioner in urban and rural Bangladesh.
Abhijit is contributing to different medical education research projects in Bangladesh. At UON, he was a member of the MERIT Net - Medical Education, Research, Innovation and Teaching Network and collaborated with colleagues in the Health Professional Education Pathway (years four and five) across UON and JMP footprints. MERIT Net transformed to ACHIEVE - Academy for Health Interprofessional Education and Vibrant Excellence, and Abhijit is a member of ACHIEVE Innovative Teaching & Learning Research Subgroup.
Since 2018, Abhijit has been a conjoint research fellow with the Centre for Global Health Research, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. Abhijit is a Hunter Medical Research Institute (Population Health Program) affiliate and a Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour member.
Prizes, Grants and Scholarships at UON:
Abhijit is an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the University of Newcastle Research Scholarship recipient. Since 2015, as a PhD candidate, he has been awarded nine UON scholarships/prizes/small grants (total ~ $133,511). In 2019, he won the faculty heat of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and represented the faculty in the university final. You can enjoy his 3MT final performance here-
"Does Your Mood Affect Your Bones?"
Kindness, empathy, and a helping attitude lie at the core of Abhijit's teaching and mentoring philosophy. Patient care and teaching are his passions. In his free time, Abhijit loves to play chess and learns about history, archeology, paleontology, international relations, cosmology and astronomy.
Keywords
- Clinical Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Medical Education
Languages
- Bengali (Mother)
- English (Fluent)
- Hindi (Working)
- Urdu (Working)
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
420605 | Preventative health care | 100 |
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
8/9/2022 - 22/12/2023 |
Lecturer in Medical Education Tasks Performed: |
Griffith University School of Medicine and Dentistry Australia |
1/1/2020 - 13/11/2020 | Sessional Academic | School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle | Australia Australia |
17/1/2019 - 6/9/2022 |
Associate Lecturer in Medical Education Tasks Performed: |
University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
13/4/2016 - |
PhD Candidate Responsibilities: |
University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
1/1/2015 - 30/4/2015 |
Medical Officer (HMO) - Endocrinology Main responsibilities: |
Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) Department of Endocrinology Bangladesh |
1/7/2014 - 31/12/2014 |
Medical Officer(HMO) - Internal Medicine Major Responsibilities: |
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Department of Internal Medicine Bangladesh |
20/12/2010 - 20/12/2011 |
Intern Doctor Major Responsibilities: |
Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH) Bangladesh |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
8/5/2017 - 30/9/2020 | First Aid Officer | Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) Australia |
3/4/2017 - 31/12/2017 |
Presenter (Health) Health Show Presenter |
2NUR-FM community radio - The University of Newcastle Australia |
14/4/2016 - 30/9/2020 | PhD Researcher | Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) Australia |
1/1/2012 - 30/6/2014 |
General Practitioner / Family Physician Independent general practice to provide primary medical care to the patients of both sexes in all age groups in Chittagong, Bangladesh. |
Woodland Diagnostic Center, Chittagong General Practice / Family Medicine Bangladesh |
Teaching appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/2/2018 - 31/12/2018 |
Year-3 Problem-based Learning Tutor/Assessor; Joint Medical Program (JMP) Responsibilities: 1. Facilitating Problem-based Learning Tutorials (PBL) and Clinical Skills Sessions for Year-3 medical students. 2. Assessing Oral Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). 3. Supervising/Marking Year-3 medical students for Health Equity Selectives (MEDI 3014 HES). |
Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
1/1/2014 - 30/6/2014 |
Lecturer Major Responsibilities: |
Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Department of Pathology Bangladesh |
Awards
Prize
Year | Award |
---|---|
2023 |
HDR Student Festival Oral Presentation Winner | Clinical Care, Health Behaviour, or Implementation Science category School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Australia |
2019 |
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Faculty Heat Winner Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
Scholarship
Year | Award |
---|---|
2019 |
University of Newcastle Graduate Research Travel Scholarship The University of Newcastle |
2018 |
University of Newcastle Graduate Research Travel Scholarship The University of Newcastle |
2017 |
Higher Degree Research Teaching Internship Scholarship University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health |
2016 |
PhD Top-up Scholarship Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour |
2015 |
University of Newcastle International Post Graduate Research Scholarship (UNIPRS) The University of Newcastle |
2015 |
University of Newcastle Research Scholarship (UNRS 50:50) The University of Newcastle |
Teaching
Code | Course | Role | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
8002MED_Y2 |
MEDICINE 2 Griffith University Study Level: Postgraduate |
PBL, clinical, communication and procedural skills session facilitation and assessment | 8/9/2022 - 22/12/2023 |
8131MED |
FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE 1 Griffith University Study Level: Postgraduate |
TBL coordination and facilitation; clinical/procedural skills session facilitation | 1/2/2023 - 5/5/2023 |
3018 |
General Practice and Subspecialities 2 Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
Problem-based Learning (PBL) Tutor/OSCE Assessor | 1/7/2018 - 31/12/2018 |
MEDI6001A |
Research for Medical Professionals Part A School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle | Australia |
Guest Lecturer | 1/1/2020 - 30/6/2020 |
MEDI1101A |
Clinical Sciences, Scholarship and Practice 1 Part A College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle |
Clinical skills tutor | 1/1/2020 - 6/9/2022 |
MEDI2101B |
Clinical Sciences, Scholarship and Practice 2 Part B University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health and Medicine |
PBL and Clinical Skills Tutor/Facilitator | 1/7/2019 - 6/9/2022 |
Undergraduate |
Pathology Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Primary responsibilities: 1. Delivering Lectures on General Pathology, Systemic Pathology, Haematology, Clinical and Chemical Pathology. 2. Guiding 3rd and 4th-year medical students for the 2nd Professional MBBS Examination under the University of Chittagong. 3. Conducting Item, Card and Term Examinations of 3rd and 4th-year medical students. 4. Participating actively in invasive procedures of Histopathology like FNAC. 5. Participating regularly in academic discussions. |
Lecturer | 1/1/2014 - 30/6/2014 |
MEDI3017 |
General Practice and Subspecialties 1 Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
Problem-based Learning (PBL) Tutor/ OSCE Assessor | 1/1/2018 - 30/6/2018 |
MEDI 3014 |
Health Equity Selectives Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
Academic Supervision, Marking | 25/7/2018 - 30/11/2018 |
MEDI1101B |
Clinical Sciences, Scholarship and Practice 1 Part B College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle |
Clinical skills tutor | 1/7/2020 - 6/9/2022 |
MEDI2101A |
Clinical Sciences, Scholarship and Practice 2 Part A Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
PBL and Clinical Skills Tutor/Facilitator | 17/1/2019 - 6/9/2022 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Chowdhury A, Chowdhury AB, Practical Electrocardiography, New Maitri Printers, Chiitagong, Bangladesh, 160 (2016) |
Journal article (14 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 |
Ferdoush J, Roy Biswas RS, Khan IU, Momtaz T, Alam J, Morshed MM, et al., 'Information and Communication Technology in Medical Education:
A Survey among Medical Students of Bangladesh', Journal of the Scientific Society, 48 165-170 (2021) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2019 |
Khanam PA, Begum T, Chowdhury A, Habib SH, 'Coronary artery disease with type 2 diabetes and other risk factors: A tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh', Bangladesh Critical Care Journal, 7 20-25 (2019) [C1]
|
||||
2018 | Chowdhury A, Ferdoush J, 'Metformin and Glyburide Use In Pregnancy: An Evidence Based Approach', Journal of Army Medical College Chittagong, 1 22-24 (2018) | ||||
2018 |
Ferdoush J, Chowdhury A, Parveen K, Ata M, Alam SS, Reza FH, 'A Survey of Factors Influencing Drug Choice and the Prescribing Attitudes Among Junior Doctors of Two Major Tertiary Care Hospitals in Chittagong City', Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J, 17 17-22 (2018) [C1]
|
||||
2017 |
Rahman M, Chowdhury A, Zamana MS, Sultana N, Amin MB, Hossain MM, Chowdhury A, 'Work-related masculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals', Update Dental College Journal, 07 04-09 (2017) [C1]
|
||||
2017 |
Chowdhury A, Ferdoush J, Rahman M, Das B, Sarker P, 'Urinary Tract Infection Management in Elderly People : Approach Beyond the Pills and Needles', Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 16 3-6 (2017) [C1]
|
||||
2016 |
Chowdhury A, Ferdoush J, Choudhury S, 'WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, SHOULD WE SEE IT IN A NEW LIGHT?', The Journal of Chittagong Medical College Teachers Association, 27 4-8 (2016) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2015 |
Siddiquee T, Bhowmik B, Karmaker RK, Chowdhury A, Mahtab H, Azad Khan AK, Hussain A, 'Association of general and central obesity with diabetes and prediabetes in rural Bangladeshi population', Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 9 247-251 (2015)
|
||||
2015 |
Chowdhury MBO, Ahmed ASMM, Chowdhury A, 'Lymphadenopathy : Histopathological evaluation of 90 Cases in Chittagong', Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 14 19-21 (2015)
|
||||
2015 | Chowdhury A, Sultana MS, Ahmed T, Pathan MF, 'Graves' Disease In A Young Male Presented With Thyroid Storm and Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus', 2nd SAFES summit 2015 Abstract Journal, 41-41 (2015) | ||||
2013 | Chowdhury G, Murad H, Kayasthagir PK, Chowdhury A, Uddin MK, Zahed NU, 'Interhemispheric Lipoma With Complete Agenesis of Corpus Callosum: A Rare Case Report and Evaluation of Neuroimaging Features', The Healer, 17 31-34 (2013) | ||||
Show 11 more journal articles |
Presentation (3 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Chowdhury A, Shefin SM, Ahmed T, Pathan MF, 'Graves' Disease in a young male presented with thyroid storm and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus', (2015) | ||
2015 | Chowdhury A, 'Incretins In Diabetes Mellitus', (2015) | ||
2015 | Chowdhury A, 'Pituitary Surgery Needs Long Term Follow Up, A Case of Acromegaly', (2015) |
Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Chowdhury A, MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN GENERAL PRACTICE, BANGLADESH COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS (2015) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 8 |
---|---|
Total funding | $133,011 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20212 grants / $8,761
Statistical Support Funding$5,000
Funding body: School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle
Funding body | School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Clinical Epidemiology |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Statistical Support Funding$3,761
Funding body: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
Funding body | Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour |
---|---|
Scheme | Research |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20192 grants / $750
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Faculty Heat Winner$500
Funding body: Faculty of Health and Medicine
Funding body | Faculty of Health and Medicine |
---|---|
Scheme | Prize |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
University of Newcastle Graduate Research Travel Scholarship$250
A $250 travel scholarship to attend the ResBaz Sydney 2019, a four-day festival and conference hosted by the University of New South Wales.
I am one of the ten awardees.
Funding body: The University of Newcastle
Funding body | The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Travel Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
20182 grants / $5,500
Higher Degree Research Teaching and Learning Internship$5,000
Funding body: Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Teaching and Learning Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
University of Newcastle Graduate Research Travel Scholarship$500
A $500 travel scholarship to attend the ResBaz Sydney 2018, a three-day festival and conference hosted by the Macquarie University.
I am one of the twelve awardees.
https://resbaz.github.io/resbaz2018/sydney/
Funding body: The University of Newcastle
Funding body | The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Travel Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
20162 grants / $118,000
University of Newcastle Research Scholarship (UNRS 50:50)$113,000
This scholarship comes as the living allowance for four years which commenced in April 2016.
Funding body: Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | Living Stipend |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2016 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
PhD Top-up Scholarship$5,000
Funding body: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
Funding body | Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour |
---|---|
Scheme | PhD Top-up Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2016 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Not Known |
Category | UNKN |
UON | N |
Research Projects
Conjoint Research Fellow; Centre for Global Health Research, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) 2018 -
Major Research Programs:
Chandra Rural Study
Diabetes Prevention Intervention Study
GIFTS Mother and Child Health Study (EU7)
Preconception Care Program (http://www.pcc-badas.org/)
GDM Screening and Prevention
Changing Diabetes Barometer in Bangladesh
Nationwide Electronic Registry for People With Diabetes
Research Fellow; GIFTs- UIO- BADAS (EU 7) Mother and Child Health Project 2014 - 2015
A joint research program of University of Oslo, Norway; Queen Mary University of London, UK and Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) funded by the European Union (EU7)
Edit