Expanding opportunities for new researchers

As a founding member of the Flinders School of Medicine in 1974 (now the College of Medicine and Public Health), Professor Chalmers helped introduce the vision of inaugural Dean of Medicine, Professor Gus Fraenkel: to integrate learning, teaching and research at the University with patient care at Flinders Medical Centre.

Within this integrated structure at Flinders, Professor Chalmers witnessed new medical researchers flourish and make significant advances in medical education and research. He also saw the lack of opportunity and barriers they face at the beginning of their career – which is why he is determined to foster the talents of early career researchers through the fellowship.

“I see a significant need to help early career researchers, especially women with a young family, who want to emerge from their doctoral studies and forge their way into a career in health and medical research.” - Emeritus Professor John Chalmers AO

“These formative years will be the toughest part of their journey to secure a career that includes serious and meaningful research," says Professor Chalmers.

“Having the chance to attend, engage and present this information as an invited speaker at a national conference was a rare and invaluable opportunity for me at my career stage.

“It allowed me to make connections with senior researchers in immunology at a far closer level than is possible at standard conferences.”

“I am honoured to receive the support of the John Chalmers Travel Fellowship, especially in a time when funding is harder than ever to come by. I know the knowledge and connections I gained from attending the school will have a lasting impact on my career," says Dr Annabelle Small.

Professor Chalmers knows from personal experience that opportunities presented to early-career researchers provide a pathway to successful research careers.

He remembers that his career flourished when presented with leadership opportunities within Flinders and Flinders Medical Centre – especially as Head of the Department of Medicine, but also through running a weekly Outpatient Hypertension Clinic that treated patients and ran clinical trials to find the best combinations of anti-hypertensive drugs.

“My time at Flinders University opened up opportunities for participation and leadership at a national and international level, including as chair or president of the Australian Society for Medical Research, the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the International Society for Hypertension and the WHO Expert Committee on Hypertension.”

While he has enjoyed an impressive medical career, including contributing to the founding of The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney, Professor Chalmers sees Adelaide and Flinders as ideal places for young medical researchers to flourish and prosper.

“Adelaide provided a wonderful setting for bringing up our family – a daughter and four sons – and for my wife Dr Alex Bune to work at The Repat Hospital. And Flinders University provided a ready-made set of colleagues and friends, which has since stretched across Australia and around the world,” says Professor Chalmers.

“These are friendships that have endured to the present day – all because of opportunities at Flinders University, for which I am very grateful.”

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^{Published September 2024. Author: David Sly}