Trailblazers in Health Services Research Honoured at Annual HSRAANZ Awards

The Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) is delighted to announce the winners of its prestigious annual awards program. These awards recognise outstanding contributions to the fields of health services research and health policy in Australia and New Zealand.

“These awards highlight the amazing work that researchers across Australia and New Zealand are doing to improve how health care is delivered, so more people can get the best care” - Dr Alison Pearce, President of HSRAANZ.

Distinguished Investigator Awards

The Distinguished Investigator Awards honour individuals, groups, or institutions that have made significant contributions to health services research and health policy. This year, awards were given in three categories:

• Senior Investigator: Prof. Sandy Middleton – Recognized for a lifetime of achievement in health services research in the fields of nursing and stroke.
• Mid-Career Investigator: Dr. Eric Chow – Honoured for significant and lasting contributions to health services around sexual health.
• New Investigator: Dr. Ashfaq Chauhan – Acknowledged for significant contributions as an early-career researcher in health services research addressing cancer and health equity.

“This is such a great news. I would like to thank the Health Services Research Association and the selection committee for this award. This is truly appreciated and is very encouraging. I am very humbled and grateful.” - Dr Ashfaq Chauhan, 2024 New Investigator Award Winner

First Nations Health, Wellbeing & Health Services Research Award

This award celebrates First Nations researchers or First Nations-led projects that contribute to improving health inequities for First Nations people through principles of social justice, self-determination, and empowerment. This year's award goes to:

• Dr Kirsten Smiler, Victoria University Wollongong – Recognized for her scholarly leadership in First Nations health services research.

 “Her research on how the health system can better respond to the needs of Maori Deaf people is quite unique and demonstrates her sustained efforts to achieve health equity in a challenging area for over two decades.” - 2024 HSRAANZ Awards Judging Panel

Health Services and Policy Research Paper of the Year

These awards recognise the best scientific published works in health services and policy research.

• Best Overall Paper Award: Prof Rana Hinman for her paper evaluating telerehabilitation with a physiotherapist for chronic knee pain.
• Best Early Career Researcher Paper Award: Dr Frederick Graham for his research on the impact of a hospital-based special care unit for people with dementia
• Best Implementation Science Paper Award: Tae Won Yi, for their paper exploring how to improve the uptake of effective medicines for people with kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Professor Margaret Kelaher Best PhD Paper Award (two awarded):
  • Karan Shah, for his paper looking at the cost-effectiveness of kidney transplantation from donors at risk of blood-borne virus infection.
  • Dr Winnie Chen, for her work looking at whether providing a digital tool to support clinicians managing chronic kidney disease in the Northern Territory represented good value for money.

We congratulate all the winners and thank them for their invaluable contributions to health services research and health policy.

Click on the photo to read more about the winners.