The researchers have been selected to take part in the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) program which enables clinicians to integrate career development in research, including a PhD, with their postgraduate specialist training.
MACH Executive Director Professor Sir John Savill says the program aims to develop the future leaders of clinical innovation in MACH-affiliated Health Services.
“MACH-Track combines training and mentorship to provide trainees with the skills they need to lead multidisciplinary research that aims to improve the care patients receive in our health system,’’ he says.
“Clinician-researchers across MACH have successfully led translation of research discoveries into improved patient care, providing better outcomes for patients.
“As technology rapidly advances and the medical demands of the population change, the need for ongoing medical research and clinical innovation is essential.
“Medical professionals need to be inspired and encouraged to pursue research and provided a clear pathway to engage in research without sacrificing their clinical training.
“MACH-Track helps them carve out dedicated time within their busy training schedules to ensure they can continue doing the research that leads to better care in our hospitals and health care services.’’
Meet our 2022 MACH-Track candidates
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Dr Megan Ball
Dr Ball completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at Bond University in Queensland and subsequently completed a Doctor of Medicine with Distinction at Flinders University in South Australia.
She is currently in her first year of Advanced Training in Clinical Genetics/Metabolic Medicine and General Paediatrics at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.
Dr Ball hopes to improve the clinical journey for children with complex and life-limiting illnesses such as inborn errors of metabolism and has a particular interest in mitochondrial disorders.
She will begin working as a Clinical Genetics Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in 2022 and will use the opportunity to further investigate the molecular diagnosis of rare diseases.
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Dr Luke Fletcher
Dr Fletcher is an Anaesthesia trainee and works primarily at Austin Health.
He has completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Hons), Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Hons) and Masters of Perioperative Medicine at Monash University in Victoria.
Dr Fletcher has a keen interest in pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction, which are strongly associated with perioperative morbidity and mortality.
He hopes to develop advanced haemodynamic monitoring technologies to better support patients with these conditions throughout their surgical journey and improve patient-centred outcomes.
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Dr Jason Ha
Dr Ha is a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) graduate of Monash University, during which he undertook an intercalated Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Honours) at the Centre for Eye Research Australia.
Dr Ha is currently the unaccredited Ophthalmology Registrar at Alfred Health and has been selected to embark on the RANZCO Vocational Training Pathway at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in 2022.
Dr Ha is passionate about utilising new technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance patient care, improve access to eye care, and preserve and restore sight.
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Dr Asha Jois
Dr Jois completed her medicine degree at Monash University. She completed her internship at the Alfred Hospital before joining the paediatric training program through the Royal Children’s Hospital.
She finished her basic training and completed a year as the Chief Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2020.
Dr Jois commenced her advanced training in paediatric gastroenterology in 2021, as a gastroenterology and clinical nutrition fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Dr Jois enjoys working with children and is particularly interested in inflammatory bowel disease.
She aims to focus her research on improving outcomes for patients with this condition.
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Dr Michael Moso
Dr Moso completed his medical degree at Monash University in 2015, graduating with first class honours.
He also completed a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) degree during his medical training and undertook research in HIV latency at the Burnet Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute with the Lewin laboratory.
Dr Moso completed his internship, basic physician training and first year of advanced training in Infectious Diseases at the Alfred Hospital.
He is currently completing his second year of Infectious Diseases training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service.
Dr Moso enjoys the challenges of managing a variety of infectious diseases including HIV and is interested in investigating mechanisms of HIV persistence, latency reversal and HIV cure.
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Dr Farrah Rodrigues
Dr Rodrigues is a Paediatric Endocrinology Fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
She has completed a Bachelor of Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Science at the University of Auckland, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Notre Dame.
Dr Rodrigues is training in Paediatric Endocrinology and General Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s and Monash Children’s Hospital.
She has also spent some time working at the Royal Darwin Hospital to gain experience in rural and remote paediatric care and indigenous health.
Dr Rodrigues sees patients with disorders related to hormone dysfunction such diabetes and thyroid disorders, but also includes other conditions leading to abnormal growth and pubertal development.
She has a particular interest in diabetes and the late endocrine effects of childhood cancer treatment.
