The WA Department of Health’s inaugural Churchill Fellowship has been awarded to Consultant Geriatrician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Elissa Campbell (pictured).
The Fellowship, sponsored by the Department, has been established to support the sustainability of health care in Western Australia.
In a statement, the Department said Dr Campbell gained the fellowship to explore models of palliative care for people living with, and dying from, dementia.
“People dying from dementia commonly experience symptoms such as pain, agitation, swallowing problems and shortness of breath. This often follows years of decline in physical function and cognition,” the Department said.
“In addition, loved ones often experience physical and emotional strain. These symptoms may all be addressed by palliative care.”
The Department said models of care that improved access to palliative care would benefit thousands of Australians with dementia and their loved ones.
“To conduct her research, Elissa will travel abroad to network with clinicians in New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Singapore when international borders reopen,” the Department said.
It congratulated Sarah Joyce and Carol Kaplanian who were successful in gaining other Churchill Fellowships.
Ms Joyce, Project Director at the Department of Health, gained a Churchill Fellowship to explore how health systems can innovate to reduce their environmental footprint.
Ms Kaplanian, Women’s Health Coordinator from the Women and Newborn Health Service, would undertake her Fellowship to understand the perspectives of migrant and refugee women who have experienced family violence.
