PHYSIOTHERAPIST-LED CARE FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

With
Associate Professor Gustavo Machado
University of Sydney &
NHMRC Principal Research Fellow,
Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Australia

RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Sydney, Australia | November 2026

Associate Professor Gustavo Machado is a physiotherapist and health services researcher at the University of Sydney and the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney Local Health District. He holds an NHMRC Investigator Fellowship (EL2) and a University of Sydney Robinson Fellowship.

With over 15 years of research experience, he leads a program focused on transforming musculoskeletal and emergency care through evidence-based practice. His research involves large-scale clinical trials evaluating treatments for musculoskeletal pain, strategies to reduce low-value care, and innovative models of emergency, hospital and virtual care. His work aims to improve patient outcomes, healthcare efficiency and health system sustainability.

Associate Professor Machado has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, including The Lancet, The BMJ, The Lancet Rheumatology and JAMA Health Forum, attracting more than 6,500 citations. He ranks among the world’s top 2% of scientists (Stanford/Elsevier), and his research has informed over 100 policy documents across 17 countries.

He has secured $29 million in competitive research funding as a Chief Investigator and received 30 research and impact awards, including the Research Australia Award, ANZMUSC Trial of the Year and NSW Health Secretary’s Award.

Funding for Associate Professor Machado’s research has included National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Medical Research Futures Fund,  HCF Australia Research Foundation and Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation.

His collaborations include NSW Ambulance, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Australian & New Zealand College of Emergency Nursing.

He contributes to national research and health policy committees, including the NHMRC, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and ANZMUSC. He is a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Health Care and a member of the Royal Society of NSW.

Source: Supplied and adapted