Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing

International Centre Launched

The newly established Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) was officially launched on 29 March 2011 by the University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Michael Barber in a ceremony at the Sturt Campus, Flinders University.

Professor Michael Kidd (Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Science) spoke on the growth of the Community Point-of-Care Services unit and its evolution to an International Centre.

Professor Paul Worley (Dean, School of Medicine, Flinders University) gave a personal perspective on the contribution of the unit and the new Centre to the field of POCT.

The Director of the International Centre, Associate Professor Mark Shephard, outlined the research and teaching agenda of the new Centre. Professor Jennene Greenhill (Director of the Flinders University Rural Clinical School) was Master of Ceremonies for the function.

(Photo: Assoc Prof Mark Shephard, Director of the Centre, addresses the guests at the opening)

Prof Jennene Greenhill addresses the guests at the launch of the International Centre

 

The launch the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing represents the culmination of 15 years of practical work and leadership in this field by Associate Professor Mark Shephard and his scientific team.

Evolution of, and the Need for, an International Centre

For the decade and a half, the Community Point-of-Care Services (CPS) unit within the Flinders University Rural Clinical School has implemented and managed the largest and most diverse range of community-based point-of-care testing models in Australia, notably the QAAMS Program for diabetes management in Aboriginal medical services across the country. It has also become a national leader in delivering teaching programs for undergraduate and postgraduate university students.

Read more about the background of the CPS unit.

As a result of its growing national and international profile and through its wide-ranging research publications on POCT, the unit received a number of requests for assistance with POCT in the past five years from a range of countries including Africa, the Western Pacific, New Guinea, New Zealand, Asia and Canada. 

In 2009, the Director of the Community Point-of-Care Services unit Associate Professor Mark Shephard was invited to speak on the QAAMS Program at a global meeting of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics in Boston. At this meeting, Associate Professor Shephard was strongly encouraged to consider translating his community-based POCT programs, notably QAAMS, to a global level.
(Photo: Mark Shephard addresses the Siemens meeting)

Soon after, Flinders University launched their Flinders University Strategic Plan 2010-2014 – Inspiring Flinders Future, which outlined nine key strategies to achieve their vision for the future. These strategies include:

• building supportive communities,
• enhancing educational opportunities,
• valuing quality in teaching,
• focusing research and
• strengthening internationalisation,

all of which are aligned neatly with the vision of the International Centre for Point-of-care Testing.

In late 2010, Associate Professor Mark Shephard was encouraged by senior University personnel to prepare a submission for the establishment of an International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing at Flinders University.

The University was particularly pleased to approve and support the development of the International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing because it has positioned Flinders University as a recognised centre for excellence in teaching and research in this field internationally. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, we believe the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing is the first of its type to be created in the world.

Visit the web site of the Community Point of Care Services Unit

^{Assoc Prof Mark Shephard (seated, centre) with other invited speakers at the Siemens meeting in Boston}