Introducing our team
The Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) was established in 2000 as a multidisciplinary research centre within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, administered through the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. We are high calibre researchers with clinical backgrounds and a key focus of our research is chronic musculoskeletal conditions. We aim to improve the care of people with musculoskeletal conditions by researching non-pharmacological non-surgical strategies to reduce pain, improve physical function and ultimately, enhance quality of life.
About the course instructors
Professor Kim Bennell
Kim is a physiotherapist, researcher and Director of CHESM. She has led many randomised controlled trials of non-surgical interventions including exercise and diet for people with chronic musculoskeletal conditions. She uses behaviour change theory to optimise adherence of patients to evidence-based treatment strategies.
Read more about Kim at our website
Dr Kim Allison
Kim is a physiotherapist, lecturer and post-doctoral researcher within the CHESM team. Her research is investigating the role of allied health professionals in weight management for patients with chronic disease.
Read more about Kim at our website
Professor Rana Hinman
Rana is a physiotherapist, researcher and Deputy Director of CHESM. Rana has extensive experience in researching the role of physiotherapy care for people with osteoarthritis, particularly exercise and physical activity interventions.
Read more about Rana at our website
Dr Sarah Jones
Sarah is a biomedical scientist specialised in human physiology and neuroscience, working as a researcher within the CHESM team. Sarah has experience in conducting both fundamental and clinical research across various areas including the autonomic nervous system, the respiratory system and the musculoskeletal system.
Read more about Sarah at our website
Course contributors
Dr Priya Sumithran
Dr Priya Sumithran is an endocrinologist and clinician researcher. She leads the Obesity Research Group at the University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine (St Vincent’s) and is Head of Obesity Medicine at Austin Health. Her research and clinical interests are in the neuroendocrine regulation of appetite and eating behaviours, the intersection between obesity and mental health, and improving efficacy, safety and access to obesity treatment.
Melanie Clode
Melanie is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with a background in research, clinical dietetics and community nutrition. She completed her honours degree at the Royal Melbourne Hospital investigating the nutrition status and anthropometric outcomes in multi-trauma injury patient’s following an intensive care unit admissions.
Dr Jonathan Quicke
Dr Jonathan Quicke is an Academic Clinical Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Keele University, UK. His specialist interest in education, exercise and weight loss for people with osteoarthritis spans research, knowledge mobilisation (within the Keele Impact Accelerator Unit), service development, delivery and evaluation.
Stavroula Zandes
Stavroula, the founder of Health & Wellbeing Training Consultants Pty Ltd, is passionate about achieving excellence in areas of health and chronic illness and is committed to helping people make positive behaviour changes to improve their overall wellbeing. She has a background in psychology and counselling and extensive experience in developing and managing a successful health promotion training program for a wide range of settings.
We encourage you to email us at:
eduweight-support@unimelb.edu.au
if you wish to collaborate on translations of this program for your country or discuss potential research collaborations for implementing into your country.
We encourage you to join our established Knowledge Translation Network for people from around the world in order to:
- Share research findings.
- Provide opportunities to volunteer/participate in studies for the general public and clinicians.
- Invite you to collaborate with us on our research activities.
- Provide you with patient and clinician resources that are developed by CHESM as a result of our studies.
Now, can you share the reasons that motivated you to register for this course, and what you hope to learn? Do this by clicking on the “Add a comment” below to share your thoughts. Take some time to read about why other people have registered for the course. Once you’re happy with your contribution, click on the Mark as Complete button to finalise this step. As you progress through the course, you will see there is an option for you to comment every step of the way.
EduWeight: Weight Management for Adult Patients with Chronic Disease
EduWeight: Weight Management for Adult Patients with Chronic Disease
