Current members
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Paediatric nephrology, epidemiology
MBChB, DCH, MMed(Clin Epi), FRACP, PhD, FAHMSProfessor Jonathan Craig is Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, as well as a member of both the MSAC PICO Advisory Subcommittee (PASC) and the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC). He is a paediatric nephrologist/clinical epidemiologist, with research focussed on improving the health of people with chronic kidney disease, children, and the health and well-being of First Nations peoples. His HTA experience is derived through previous roles on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Advisory Group on the Synthesis and Translation of Research Evidence, NHMRC Health Translation Advisory Committee, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and the Life Savings Drug Program Expert Panel. Professor Craig provides expertise in the fields of paediatric nephrology and clinical epidemiology.
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Thoracic, sleep medicine
MBBS, PhD, FRACPProfessor Kwun Fong is a thoracic and sleep physician and clinical manager of the Pulmonary Malignancy Unit at The Prince Charles Hospital, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland. His research interests are focussed on making and translating research discoveries to improving outcomes and the health of people who are affected by lung disease particularly lung cancer screening/early detection and biomarkers. He previously served as Chair of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC). Professor Fong provides expertise in the fields of
thoracic and sleep medicine. -
Health economics
BSc(Hons) MPhil, PhD, GradCertHealthEcAssociate Professor Sarah Norris is Chair of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC) and Associate Professor of Practice, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) at the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, University of Sydney. She has extensive experience in HTA, evaluating pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices, diagnostic tests and public health programs. Her research interests encompass the methods used to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of emerging health technologies, with a focus on genomics and digital health. Associate Professor Norris provides expertise in the field of health economics.
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Cardiology, epidemiology
MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACC, MHAProfessor Walter Abhayaratna is a senior staff specialist, consultant cardiologist and Clinical Director at the Canberra Hospital Health Services and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Australian National University. His clinical and research interests include cardiovascular epidemiology, echocardiology, prevention of cardiovascular disease and clinical trials. Professor Abhayaratna provides expertise in the fields of cardiology and epidemiology.
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Academic pharmacist
BPharm BS (Pharm), PharmD, FRPharmSProfessor Jo-anne Brien is an Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney and Adjunct Professor in the St Vincent’s Hospital Clinical School, University of New South Wales.
Her research interests involve clinical pharmacy, pharmacokinetics in cancer, quality use of medicines and health services research. She is the current Deputy Chair of the MSAC PICO Advisory Subcommittee (PASC) and has previously sat on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Drug Utilisation Subcommittee (DUSC). Professor Brien provides expertise in the field of Pharmacy. -
General practice
MBBS, FRACGP, MMed, FAICDDr Eleanor Chew OAM is a specialist General Practitioner. She has extensive experience in the field of general practice across various settings, with a focus on strategic advocacy and improvements in primary care practice in both government and private sectors. She is the Chair of Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland Board, member of the Professional Services Review Panel and the Medical Board Performance and Professional Standards Panel and is an assessor with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Dr Chew provides expertise in the field of general practice.
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Health economics
BEc, MPH, PhDProfessor Louisa Collins is the Research Lead, Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, Viertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland. Her research interests involve economic evaluations, decision-analytic modelling and applied economic research predominantly in the areas of cancer prevention and screening, supportive care interventions for cancer survivors and the financial burden of cancer to families. She is also a member of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee. Professor Collins provides expertise in the field of health economics.
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General surgery
MBBS, MD, FRACS, GAICDEmeritus Professor David Fletcher AM is an Emeritus Professor, University of West Australia and Emeritus Consultant Surgeon, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group. Throughout his career he has specialised in general surgery and in particular upper gastrointestinal conditions. The latter stages of his career have focused on leading change and innovation within the surgical and Health Technology Assessment spaces. He is currently a member of the Casemix Clinical Advisory Committee (CCAC) of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority and board member of The Hospital Research Foundation Group Western Australia. Emeritus Professor Fletcher provides expertise in the field of general surgery.
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Genetics, molecular pathology
BS, MBBS, MD, GAICDDr Janice Fletcher is a recently retired paediatrician, biochemical geneticist and genetic pathologist. Her clinical interests are in paediatrics, laboratory and clinical genetics, newborn screening and inborn errors of metabolism.
She is a member of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Advisory Committee on Medicines, member of the Life Saving Drugs Program Expert Panel and Chair of the Board of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Quality Assurance Program. Dr Fletcher provides expertise in the fields of genetics, molecular pathology and paediatric medicine.
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Genetic pathology and genomics
MBBS (Hons), BMedSc (Hons), FRCPA (Genetics)Dr Melanie Galea is a consultant genetic pathologist and Director of Genetics at Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, Sonic Healthcare Australia. She has a special interest in the application of genetic technologies to clinical medicine, particularly in paediatric and reproductive medicine contexts. She is a member of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Genetics Advisory Committee. Dr Galea plays an active role in genetic pathology training and supervision and was the inaugural RCPA National Coordinator for Genetic Pathology Training and an examiner for the RCPA. Dr Galea provides expertise in the field of genetic pathology and genomics.
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General practice
MMBS, FRACGP, MHL, DCHDr Walid Jammal is a General Practitioner at the Hills Family General Practice and Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney School of Medicine. He has clinical and non-clinical interests in ethics and health law, with specific interests in quality and safety in health care, health policy, health reform and health economics, as well as innovative models of care in primary care.
He is currently co-chair of the GP Advisory Committee for the Agency for Clinical Innovation (NSW Health); member of the Western Sydney Local Health District Board; and member of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Board. Dr Jammal provides expertise in the field of general practice. -
Consumer member
BA, MBA, GAICDMs Eileen Jerga AM is a consumer member and advocate on numerous Health
Committees. With an executive background in health administration and health promotion, she has extensive experience in health technology assessment (HTA) at Government and private levels. She previously served on the Vascular Prostheses Advisory Group (VPCAG), the Cardiac Prostheses Advisory Group (CPCAG) and the MSAC PICO Advisory Subcommittee
(PASC). She is a member of the HTA Consumer Consultative Committee and a Community member on the Medical Board of Australia, with a special interest in English Language Standards for International Medical Graduates.
Ms Jerga provides expertise in the field of consumer matters. -
Epidemiology
MBBS, BMedSci, FRACP, MMedClinEpi, PhDAssociate Professor Suzanne Mahady is a senior staff specialist, consultant gastroenterologist at Melbourne Health and Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at Monash University. She has research interests in gastrointestinal disorders including fatty liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding and cancers, and has been Chair of the International Endpoint Adjudication Committee for Clinically Significant Bleeding for the ASPREE and ASPREE-XT clinical trials. She has extensive experience in teaching epidemiology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Associate Professor Mahady has previously undertaken advisory roles for Cancer Council Australia and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. She is the Chair of the MSAC PICO Advisory Subcommittee (PASC), and a member of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC). Associate Professor Mahady provides expertise in the field of epidemiology, gastroenterology and liver disease.
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Consumer member
Ms Gillian Mason is a proudly disabled and chronically ill healthcare consumer advocate and science communicator. She is a consumer member on MSAC, a physiotherapist with 15 years' clinical experience, and a clinician-researcher who brings a dual patient-clinician perspective to the design of clinical trials in community-based rehabilitation approaches and digital health. At Hunter Medical Research Institute, with the University of Newcastle, Gillian manages the Stroke Research Register (Hunter) and provides strategic advice, training and mentorship around consumer and community involvement in healthcare research for stakeholders "on both sides of the bedside", locally and nationally. She has worked with the Stroke Foundation to develop training packages for researchers and consumers about effectively working together on research teams. She served as the communications coordinator for the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Research Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation and Brain Repair for several years and is a current board Member of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
Gillian is passionate about improving access, inclusion and equity in healthcare for consumers and workforce, and in 2021 she was one of 25 Australian women to be awarded the inaugural Brilliant Women in Digital Health Award. -
Diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine, health economics and epidemiology
PhD, MMRS(NM), GCertHlthEconEmeritus Professor Rachael Moorin is an Emeritus Professor of Health Economics and Data Analytics at Curtin University. Prior to her move to academia, she was a Diagnostic Radiographer and Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Her research is centred on promoting evidence-based care; reducing ineffective, wasteful or harmful care; reducing unnecessary downstream health care use and costs and improving health outcomes for patients with a range of chronic conditions through advanced statistical and economic modelling. She is also a previous member of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC). Emeritus Professor Moorin provides expertise in the fields of Diagnostic Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Health Economics and Epidemiology.
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Pathology
MB BS, FRCPA, PhDProfessor Sandra O’Toole is a Senior Staff Specialist pathologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Professor in the School of Medical Science, University of Sydney and a visiting scientist at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Professor O’Toole provides expertise in the field of pathology.
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Medical oncology
BMed, MPH, PhD, FRACPDr Adrian Pokorny is a medical oncologist at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney and Alice Springs Hospital. He has research interests in health policy and ethics, exploring the interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and cancer physicians.
He is also a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) Economics Subcommittee (ESC). Dr Pokorny provides expertise in the field of medical oncology.
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Nuclear medicine
MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAANMS, DDUDr Stuart Ramsay is a senior staff specialist in Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and Nuclear Medicine at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. His clinical interests are in PET/CT, nuclear medicine, radionuclide therapy, cardiac imaging, and rural and remote healthcare. He is chair of the Queensland Radiation Advisory Council and member of the scientific committee of the Australasian Radiopharmaceutical Trials network (ARTnet). Dr Ramsay provides expertise in the field of nuclear medicine.
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Anaesthesiology
FAICD MBBS (Hons) FANZCA MHPol MClSDr Joanna Sutherland is an Honorary Medical Officer Anaesthetist at Coffs Harbour Health Campus and a Conjoint Associate Professor with the University of New South Wales Rural Medical School. Her research interests are centred on evidence-based medicine, rural health and medical education, specifically workforce training patterns, clinical outcomes and decision making. She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Safety and Quality Committee and member of the MSAC Evaluation Subcommittee (ESC). Dr Sutherland provides expertise in the field of anaesthesiology.
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General surgery
BSc (Hons) MB ChB ChM, FRCSEd, FRACSProfessor David Watters AM OBE is a Distinguished Professor of Surgery at Deakin University and the University Hospital Geelong, Barwon Health. He has clinical interests in thyroid, parathyroid, general and colorectal surgery, with commitment to improving perioperative care before, during and after surgery.
He was formerly the inaugural Chair of the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (2019-2022) and is currently Director of Surgery at Safer Care Victoria (SCV), supporting Victoria's Planned Care Recovery and Reform Program and SCV's Safer Together Program. At Barwon Health he is a former Director of Surgery (2002-16) and now Chair of the Surgical and Critical Care Program Safety and Quality Committee. He is a former Council Member and Past President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and previously chaired the General Surgery Advisory Committee for the MBS Review. Professor Watters provides expertise in the field of perioperative care.
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