QUT has announced a new senior appointment as it works toward establishing a School of Clinical Medicine within the Faculty of Health to meet Australia's future health needs.
Respected academic and clinical specialist, Professor Jennifer Williams, has been appointed to the new position of Dean and Head of School, Clinical Medicine, joining the six existing Heads of School in the Faculty of Health as part of the Faculty Executive Team.
Professor Williams is currently the Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New England in New South Wales.
She is also a senior staff specialist emergency physician at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.
QUT Acting Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik, said Professor Williams' reputation for innovation, collaboration, advocacy and strategic leadership in the tertiary sector would provide a strong leadership base as plans for the new School of Clinical Medicine progress.
"I warmly welcome Professor Williams to QUT and look forward to our working together as we raise the profile of QUT's existing strengths in the field of clinical medicine," Professor Barner-Kowollik said.
"Professor Williams brings a depth of knowledge across both public and private health, the insurance industry and her board experience in the not-for-profit sector."
Faculty of Health Executive Dean, Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates, said the appointment was an important milestone as QUT proactively worked toward establishing the School of Clinical Medicine.
"QUT has great strengths in clinical medicine and the appointment of Professor Williams is part of our plan to bring together QUT medical academics and create more opportunities for collaboration," Professor Yates said.
"Professor Williams has paired her clinical and academic careers for more than a decade. She led the establishment of Griffith University's Doctor of Medicine Program at the Sunshine Coast and the first end-to-end medical program in the region, prior to moving to the University of New England."
Professor Williams said she was looking forward to being part of the expansion of the QUT Faculty of Health.
"I'm excited to join QUT as an institution with a strong reputation for industry collaboration and cutting-edge innovation, and a commitment to developing solutions for the health workforce crisis," Professor Williams said.
"Establishing the new School is an amazing opportunity to bring together QUT's world-class medical researchers to look toward the future of clinical medicine."
Professor Williams' experience includes:
- Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New England.
- Senior staff specialist emergency physician and former Acting Director of Clinical Training at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.
- Examiner, Australian Medical Council
- International consultant in assessment in medical education
- Deputy Head of School, Medicine and Program Advisor (MD), Griffith University (Sunshine Coast)
- Representative roles with the Australian Medical Association, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand
- Undergraduate and primary medical qualifications from The University of Queensland with specialist training to Fellowship of ACEM through the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
- Master of Clinical Education from Bond University
Professor Williams will commence her position at QUT in early July, 2024.
