The National EMCR Summit held on Wednesday 2 August was a joint initiative of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance, Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand and the National Heart Foundation. It was great to have medical research institutes, peak bodies and cardiovascular research networks all in the room and ready to discuss career sustainability in the CVD & stroke sector.
The day was an interactive blend of panel discussions and breakout sessions.
Opening messages on collaboration, strategy and the big picture were delivered by our CEO Kerry Doyle OAM PSM, CSANZ President Professor Stephen Nicholls and the Heart Foundations’ Strategic Research Portfolio Lead, Dr Anna Calkin.
The first panel chaired by Dr Celine Santiago discussed career success and workplace sustainability. We’d like to thank panel members Professor Andrew Murphy Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Dr Katharine Brown Telethon Kids Institute Stroke Foundation, Professor Chris Sobey La Trobe University and Dr Anna Calkin for sharing their experiences and insights.
In our second Panel Cardiovascular Research Networks and scientific society representatives discussed the current support available for EMCR career advancement. Thanks to our panel members Dr Lauren Blekkenhorst WACRA Advocate, Dr Jessica Orchard NSWCVRN, Dr Louise See Hoe ISHR, Dr Adrian Elliott SACVRN, Dr Rikeish R Muralitharan Hypertension Australia and Professor Stephen Nicholls Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
The breakout sessions were a great chance for all attendees to participate, sharing opinions and expanding on panel discussions.
It was thrilling to see so many of you in person and hear directly about what is working or needs improvement in this space. The day’s discussions and findings will be collated and written up with the help of Dr Larissa Bartlett and there are plans for an online debrief to take place later in the year, so watch this space.
This event couldn’t have taken place without the planning of the Co-ordinating Committee (Dr Niamh Chapman, Dr Lauren Blekkenhorst, Dr Anna Calkin, Dr Katrina Colafella, Professor Sally Inglis, Dr Celine Santiago, Dr Emma Thomas, the smooth facilitation of ACvA Deputy President Professor Jamie Vandenberg, the logistical fine-tuning of ACvA Operations and the generous hosting of the University of South Australia facilitated by Associate Professor Christina Bursill and Professor Claudine Bonder.
Thank you all for your contribution to this important national discussion.