NT doctor recognised for teaching excellence
Congratulations to Dr Anosh Sivashanmugarajah who has received the 2026 Northern Territory (NT) Clinical Educator of the Year award by the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils.
As a cardiologist and general medicine physician, Dr Sivashanmugarajah, who is based at Flinders’ Alice Springs campus, mentors Flinders medical students in the NT.
The annual award recognises clinical educators across Australia and New Zealand who have made a significant contribution to the education of junior doctors.
As the NT winner, Dr Sivashanmugarajah will now go up against the winners from other states and territories across Australia and New Zealand, with the overall winner announced in November.
Frontline healthcare worker receives top honour
Congratulations to paramedic and Flinders Senior Lecturer James Pearce for receiving an Executive Director Commendation from the SA Ambulance Service for his outstanding contribution to pre-hospital research.
Mr Pearce led the establishment of the Paramedicine Honours Program at Flinders, a study pathway that paves the way for aspiring clinician-researchers and supports the next generation of paramedicine leaders.
Over the past 12 months, Mr Pearce has also published numerous academic articles and strengthened research engagement within the SA Ambulance Service.
Disability researcher to trial using VR to ease medical procedure anxiety
Congratulations to Associate Professor Michelle Bellon who has received more than $23,000 to help conduct first-of-its-kind research to investigate whether virtual reality (VR) headsets can reduce anxiety for people with intellectual disabilities undergoing healthcare procedures.
Associate Professor Bellon is among a team of researchers appointed by the SA Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS) to conduct the work, which will also explore whether VR headsets can help remove the need for anaesthesia during basic procedures such as vaccinations, blood tests, scans and MRIs.
Associate Professor Bellon will bring her wealth of knowledge and experience in leading inclusive co-design research with and for people with intellectual disabilities across health settings.