Janet Conti an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology, a clinical psychologist, AHPRA endorsed supervisor, and dietitian. She is also a credentialled psychologist with the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders.

Janet’s clinical experience informs her research that prioritises giving voice to peoples’ experiences of anorexia nervosa (AN) and other Eating Disorders (EDs) and their experience of its treatment. She has contributed to pedagogical shifts in Western Sydney University’s Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology programs to increase students’ skills development across a range of therapeutic interventions; to increase awareness and sensitivity to cultural and individual diversity in ways that optimise client voice and appropriate response; and to engage in reflective practice early in the training to ensure an active participation in their professional development. Her teaching pedagogy is fundamentally based on respect and engaged, value-based experiential classroom learning that invites reflective practice in the building of professional identity.

Janet’s research is focused on giving voice to the person/family touched by Eating Disorders (ED) and its treatment. Her research demonstrates and advocates for the prioritisation of the person/family’s voice to inform therapeutic interventions and for clinicians to develop skills in tailoring treatments to the person/family. She has a particular interest in qualitative research, including critical discusive approaches.

Henry is a surgical registrar at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and the current chief surgical resident. He is a PhD candidate through the University of Melbourne Department of Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital working on the role of artificial intelligence technology and machine learning in keyhole gallbladder surgery.

Suzanne is a lecturer in Speech Pathology in the School of Medical and Health Sciences. Current Teaching SPE1102 Language Across The Lifespan SPE2103 Analysis of Speech and Language SPE3106 Management of Speech and Language Disorders SPE4110, 4111 Clinical Practicum (Tutor) Background Adjunct Research Officer, University of Western Australia (current) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Western Australia (past) Speech Pathologist, Therapy Focus (past) Speech Pathologist, WA Department of Health Shire Wyndham East Kimberley (past) Research Areas and Interests The pathogenesis and development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) Infant and early childhood language development Effects of early experiences upon language development Effects of prematurity on later speech and language development. Nutritional effects on neurodevelopment, particularly long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia, 2012. Bachelor of Science (Human Communication Science), Curtin University of Technology, 2006.

Emily Hemendinger, LCSW, MPH, CPH, ACS is currently an Assistant Professor, Clinical Director, and DBS Coordinator with the OCD Program, at the University of Colorado. Emily completed her dual degree program (MSW/MPH) from the University of Pittsburgh. She has over 10 years of clinical experience working with OCD, anxiety disorders, perfectionism, body image concerns, and eating disorders. Emily has a background in behavioral and community health sciences, health education, and health promotion. She is dedicated to combining her mental health and public health work to increase access to affordable and inclusive specialized mental health care. Her other passions include smashing mental health stigma, climbing mountains, and spending time with her aussie-corgi mix, Harrison Ford Hemendinger.

Dr Jacinta Johnson is a credentialled Advanced Practice Pharmacist, currently working across roles as Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and as Senior Pharmacist for Research within the SA Pharmacy. Dr Johnson has previous experience practicing as a specialist high dependency unit pharmacist, in medication safety and in clinical education at Flinders Medical Centre; and in primary care, as a community pharmacist.

Dr Johnson’s clinical specialty is pain medicine, with her PhD and subsequent research focusing upon quality use of pain medicines and new treatments for migraine. As a migraine sufferer herself Jacinta is passionate about promoting the important role pharmacists can play in assisting patients with migraine to best manage their condition.

Professor Sarah Blunden (MAPS, BAPsych (Hons), MSocSc, PhD) has a dual role as Head of Paediatric Sleep Research and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Central Queensland University, Australia and is a clinical psychologist specialising in the treatment of children’s sleep problems. Sarah is the Founder/Director of the Paediatric Sleep Clinic, Director of the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep© (www.sleepeducation.net.au) (ACES) and member of the Education Committee, Behavioural Sleep Medicine subcommittee and chair of the Indigenous Sleep Health Special Interest group, all of the Australasian Sleep Association.

Her research interests include sleep education, indigenous sleep and health, sleep interventions for young children, the impact of poor sleep, on children and families and the causes of poor sleep in children and young people with an emerging interest in multi-disciplinary teaching practices for psychology. Sarah has presented over 70 conference presentations and published over 100 academic papers and books.

Dr Adrian Barnett is an Australian-based health professional. Adrian is trained as a Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Physician

Adrian Barnett is a respiratory physician who completed his advanced training in sleep medicine in 2019 at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He has an interest in obstructive sleep apnoea and dysfunctional breathing and enjoys teaching.

Sophie Yates is a Research Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU and was previously Research Fellow at the Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW Canberra and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). She is interested in a gender and inequality lens on public administration and policy issues. She has published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and won several awards for her research.

Dr. Kanoski’s research focuses on the neurobiological control of food intake and body weight regulation. More specifically his laboratory focuses on understanding how the brain processes peripherally- and centrally-derived hormonal signals to control learned and motivated aspects of feeding behavior, as well as to examine how these neuroendocrine signaling systems contribute to and are compromised by obesity and related metabolic disorders. At the center of this research is the hippocampus; a brain region traditionally linked with memory function, but more recently shown to control higher-order aspects of feeding behavior. The lab also focuses on exploring the relationship between consuming saturated fatty acids and refined carbohydrates (i.e., Western diets) and the development of hippocampal dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s pathology.

Nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. These conditions are oftentimes linked to the chronic overconsumption of highly palatable diets that despite being calorically rich, are nutritionally maladaptive. The integration of oral (i.e., taste) and postoral signals elicited by these foods and fluids as they are ingested, digested, and assimilated into the body is critical for the control of meal size and diet selection. In the Schier laboratory, we investigate how the chemical constituents of foods and fluids are sensed, how these oral and postoral signals are processed in the brain and channeled into the behavioral outputs govern appetite.

A/Prof Gino Pecoraro OAM is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Brisbane and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of QLD. He completed his medical degree at the University of Queensland in 1988. He completed his fellowship in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1996. A/Prof Pecoraro is Senior Visiting Obstetrician and Obstetrics deliveries at Wesley Maternity Hospital. He is a past president of the Australian Medical Association, National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Australian Gynaecological and Endoscopy Society, and the Australian and International Menopause Societies. He is also past secretary of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG). A/Prof Gino Pecoraro OAM received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community through his work as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, with a special interest in high-risk obstetrics. He maintains a keen interest in medical journalism having written and presented extensively on television, radio, newspapers and blog sites; holds a number of teaching positions and has been involved in a number of government health policy committees.

Mr. Michael Hii is an Oesophago-Gastric and Bariatric (weight loss) surgeon. He works as a consultant at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Epworth Healthcare. He is the deputy director of the Hepatobiliary and Upper GI unit at St Vincent’s Hospital and the Pre-SET supervisor.
Michael completed medical school at the University of Melbourne and then surgical training at St Vincent’s Hospital and Eastern Health. He was awarded his surgical fellowship in 2009 and underwent subspecialty training in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Michael enjoys a really busy clinical workload – in addition to clinical work, he maintains a strong interest in research and education. He is a clinical senior fellow at the University of Melbourne, and he is the chair the St Vincent’s Upper GI and Hepatobiliary research group. He has published widely in Upper GI and bariatric literature.
Mr. Hii’s clinical areas of interest include the treatment of oesophageal and gastric cancer, hiatus hernia repair, anti-reflux surgery, surgery for achalasia and obesity surgery (including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and revision procedures). Research areas of interest include enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, the role of exercise in cancer treatment and understanding the mechanisms behind weight loss surgery.
Outside of work Michael is passionate about his family time, he loves spending time with his daughters, collecting old guitars and dabbles in the game of golf.
Michael provides the following services
* Oesophagectomy (removal of the oesophagus)
* Gastrectomy (removal of the stomach)
* Hiatal hernia repair
* Anti-reflux surgery
* Heller’s myotomy (for achalasia)
* Adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland)
* Cholecystectomy
* Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair
* Splenectomy
* Gastric Banding for Obesity
* Sleeve Gastrectomy for Obesity
* Gastric Bypass for Obesity
All of these are usually performed via keyhole surgery (unless specific patient circumstances require open surgery).
Education & Experience
* Oesophago-Gastric surgery fellow, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, 2011-2012
* Obesity surgery fellow, Royal Brisbane and Women’s’ Hospital, Brisbane, 2011
* Upper GI and HPB fellow, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, 2010
* Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), General Surgery, 2009
* Post Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy, Melbourne University Private, 2005
* Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Melbourne University, 2000
* Bachelor of Medical Science, Melbourne University, 2000