LIVED EXPERIENCE with SPONTANEOUS CORONARY ARTERY DISSECTION (SCAD) Uncommon condition more prevalent in younger women
with
Jen O’Neill, Patient &
Board Member
SCAD Research Australia Inc &
Social Worker, Central Coast, NSW
LIVED EXPERIENCE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | June 2026
Jen O’Neill is a Social Work Program Manager and mother of two from the Central Coast, NSW.
At 36, she experienced her first spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) heart attack and has since survived two further SCADs before age 43.
Her lived experience has driven a strong commitment to heart health advocacy, focusing on improving education, research, and clinical understanding of cardiovascular disease in women without typical risk factors.
Jen is a board member of SCAD Research Australia and serves on the Women’s Health Program Consumer Panel at The George Institute for Global Health.
She is an ambassador for Heart Research Australia’s Red Feb campaign and participates in studies including with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and Mayo Clinic.
She also supports community fundraising initiatives, including the Central Coast SCADaddle for Research Walk. She is recognised for leadership in advocacy and advancing cardiovascular health informed by lived experience.
Source: MTAA Women’s Health MedTech Summit program
Media access credit: Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
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Paramedics seek team-based primary health care pilots
The Chief Executive Officer of The Australasian College of Paramedicine, John Bruning spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
New models of care proposed for paramedics
Paramedicine pilot program in the pre-budget submission
Scope of how paramedics can support General Practice, and guidelines on safety and quality
Current limitations experienced by paramedics needing to be addressed by Government
Other health priorities hopefully addressed in Federal Budget.In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Analogy of the system, rather than the ED front door
“The problem of blockages shows up in ambulance ramping and long wait times, but this is a complex issue requiring whole-of-health system solutions,” according to Professor Hugh Grantham, Chair of Emergency Medicine Foundation in an interview with Australian Health Journal.
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The next era of dental care
In September 2026, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons returned with its bi-annual, Fine Edge of Dentistry 2026 Conference.
The conference was held is Sydney and was also an opportunity to honour recent outstanding contributions and achievements from College Members and Fellows, within the curated scientific program.
