Canterbury Respiratory
Research Group - Personnel
| Back Row (Left to right): |
Mike Epton, Julie Cook, Jack Dummer |
| Front Row (Left to right):
| Kathy Withell, Tracey Hewitt, Caro Dench, Fiona McCartin, Ian Town |
| Absent: |
Janene Chapman, Richard Laing, Karen Silvers, Maureen Swanney,
Lutz Beckert |
The Canterbury Respiratory Research Group is part of the Department
of Medicine at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences
and is located at 45 Cambridge Terrace. The Group is affiliated with
the Department of Respiratory Services of the Canterbury District Health
Board. Currently the Group consists of a Director, a Research Manager,
an Administration Manager/Research Assistant, three Research Nurses and
two Research Fellows.
Director:
Michael Epton BM BS, BMedSci, MRCP (UK), FRACP, PhD
Mike took over as Director of the Group in July 2002. He is a Senior Lecturer
in Medicine at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences and
is a Respiratory Physician at Christchurch Hospital. He has recently been
appointed to the position of President-Elect of the New Zealand branch of
the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Trustee:
Ian Town MB ChB, FRACP, DM
Ian is one of the senior members of the Group, having retired in July 2002
from the position of Director. He is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Canterbury. Ian is continuing as an Investigator for the Infant Cohort
Study, which is the major joint project being undertaken with colleagues
at the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Research Manager:
Julie Cook RCpN, BN
Julie joined the Group in April 2001. Julie has the responsibility of strategic
and business planning, and for overseeing the day-to-day running of the Group
in the position of Research Manager. She is also Research Nurse / Study Co-ordinator
for various clinical trials within the Group.
Research Fellows:
Jack Dummer MB ChB, BMedSci, MRCP(UK)
Jack joined the Group in October 2005. He has been working with the SIFT-MS
Study which has been extended for another year. Jack is also Research Fellow
for the COPD eNO Study and is currently involved in the set up process for
this study.
Karen Silvers PhD
Karen officially joined the Group in April 2006. Karen has been assisting the
Group with the nutritional analysis for the Infant Cohort Study, exploring
the links between breast feeding and the development of allergy and asthma.
Research Nurses:
Fiona McCartin RGON, BA
Fiona joined the Group in August 2000. She has been involved with many studies
since joining the Group. These include the Infant Cohort Study, the investigation
of the psychological aspects of COPD, and several clinical trials. Fiona
co-ordinates the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Register for New Zealand and the COPD
Micro and Oxidative Stress Study. Fiona is currently co-ordinating an Asthma
Study and COPD Studies
Caroline Walker RGON, PGCert
Caro joined the Group in December 2006.
She currently fulfils the role of Research Nurse /Study Co-ordinator
for the Infant Cohort Study and
SAVE Study.
Administration Manager/Research Assistant:
Kathy Withell
Kathy joined the Group in 1995 as a full time secretary and now works 30 hours
per week as Clinical Trials Administrator. She provides administrative support
for all our research projects.
Accountant/Trustee:
Janene Chapman B Com, CA
Janene has provided the Group with advice regarding our financial accounts
since 1994. Janene has also recently become a Trustee of the Group.
Other Affiliated Staff:
In addition to the staff that have been employed directly by the Group
we have been fortunate to work with a large number of staff from Department
of Respiratory Services and other medical staff at Christchurch Hospital.
Associate Professor Lutz Beckert MD, MRCP (UK), FRACP
Lutz is a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the Christchurch School of Medicine
and Health Sciences and is a Respiratory Physician at Christchurch Hospital.
He has a significant interest in the pulmonary embolism research programme,
respiratory physiology and sleep medicine.
Dr Maureen Swanney CRFS, PhD
Maureen is the Scientific Director of the Respiratory Physiology Laboratory.
She has recently completed a PhD in Medicine; the thesis title is “The
clinical application of spirometry indices measured at six-seconds”.
Her contributions to the field of lung function testing have been recognised
internationally. Maureen is the Chairperson of an ANZSRS committee involved
with evaluating spirometry training courses for ANZSRS/TSANZ endorsement.
In addition she was President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of
Respiratory Science (ANZSRS) from 1999 until 2001, and represents both ANZSRS
and TSANZ on various sub committees. Maureen was recently appointed as the
Chairperson for the APSR Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly.
Dr Richard Laing MB ChB, FRACP
Richard is a Respiratory Physician at Christchurch Hospital. Richard’s
research interests lie in the areas of community-acquired pneumonia, bronchiectasis
and cystic fibrosis.
Dr Michael Hlavac MB ChB, FRACP
Michael is a Respiratory Physician at Christchurch Hospital. One of Michael’s
main areas of interest is in Sleep Medicine and he is the Director of the Sleep
Unit at Christchurch Hospital.
|
