New Head of Clinical School for School of Rural Health

The University of Sydney Medical School is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Catherine Hawke as the new Head of Clinical School for the School of Rural Health Dubbo/Orange.

Professor Hawke comes to the role as a public health physician, a medical specialty primarily concerned with the health and care of populations and has extensive experience and knowledge of regional and rural healthcare, first practising in the central west as a junior doctor in Orange in 1983.

She has a long history of teaching and research with the School of Rural Health, originally joining in 2006 as a Senior Lecturer in Rural Health in Orange and in 2017 she was appointed to the role of Deputy Head of School.

In addition to her role at the School, Professor Hawke is involved in rural health policy and workforce development at state and national levels.

She is passionate about building both the rural health workforce and rural research capacity and capability and is committed to working to reduce inequalities through education, research, and partnerships.

She is a founding Chair and now Co-chair of the Western NSW Health Research Network (WHRN), formed in 2013, the peak body for health research in western NSW. WHRN has hosted nine annual conferences, in western NSW and virtually, to showcase and share the results of high-quality health research being undertaken in the area.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the wonderful team at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo and Orange who are dedicated to delivering excellent medical education and health research in western NSW and building the rural medical workforce,” said Professor Hawke.

Professor Hawke will lead oversee the medical education, academic staff and external partnerships at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo and Orange, including the delivery of the University of Sydney’s entire four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in Dubbo, in addition to the extended rural placements available to Sydney Medical School students at both sites.

“We are delighted to have appointed Catherine as head of the clinical school,” said Professor Cheryl Jones, Dean of Sydney Medical School.

“She brings with her a wealth of knowledge, understanding and networks in the rural and regional health space and a real understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the field.”