HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION PREVENTION
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Philip Russo (Filmed June 2024)
Professor of Nursing
Director of Research, Nursing & Midwifery, Monash University &
Director of Nursing Research, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia
Professor Russo is Director of Research, Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia and Director of Nursing Research, Cabrini Health.
Professor Russo is an internationally regarded expert in healthcare associated infection prevention, and led the recently completed the Australian National Healthcare Associated Infection Point Prevalence Survey, the first in Australia for 34 years. He is also Past President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region.
Aside from his role at ACIPC, other leadership and engagement activities include; former Deputy Chair of the Infection Control Expert Group (COVID-19), a member of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Steering Committee, the National Health and Medical Research Council Infection Control Guidelines Advisory Committee, and the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Professor Russo is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Early Career Fellowship and has attracted research funding from government, industry, philanthropic and academic sources. He has presented at both national and international conferences, authored over 100 peer reviewed articles and several book chapters.
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New treatments for patients with mental illness
Associate Professor Bernadette Fitzgibbon is a neuroscientist with several decades of experience in researching, developing, and translating novel therapies for mental health and chronic pain conditions. This includes the application and optimisation of brain stimulation and psychedelic therapies, overseeing large multi-site intervention trials, both within Australia and abroad. Through her work, she has developed meaningful collaborations with consumers, volunteers, policy makers, and services providers, ensuring that the outcomes of her work contribute towards real-world clinical impact.
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Access to dental care for priority populations
Professor Dileep Sharma is a distinguished dental educator and researcher who currently serves as Professor and Discipline Head of Oral Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. With over two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, research leadership, and academic mentorship, Professor Sharma has established himself as a leading authority in oral health education and interdisciplinary research.
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Health and economic burden of interstitial lung diseases
Dr Cox’s main research interests focus on respiratory diseases and primarily on the economic burden and economic evaluation of interventions and treatments for their management. She earned her PhD from the University of Tasmania where her doctoral research examined the health and economic burden of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Australia, one component of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence for Pulmonary Fibrosis, a national project implemented alongside the Australian IPF Registry and the Lung Foundation Australia. This research provided the first epidemiological profile and first costing estimates of the economic burden of the disease in Australia, providing essential evidence for health service reimbursement policies.
