Research Areas

Barwon Health and Deakin University work closely together to address some of the community’s biggest health challenges. As partners, we bring together clinical and academic teams to tackle important clinical issues to benefit the community.

Since the establishment of the Deakin School of Medicine over ten years ago, the research partnership with Barwon Health has continued to develop and grow.  

Key to the development of clinician researchers of the future is the research component of the Deakin medical course. Over two years, students develop core research skills common to all projects, ranging from designing search strategies, undertaking literature reviews, developing research questions, designing study protocols and data analysis plans, and scientific communication: writing a journal article, giving an oral presentation, and presenting a scientific poster.

The focus of this training is on developing transferable skills that will be useful in clinical practice, including critical appraisal of empirical research, as well as preparing them to contribute to the development of their chosen fields as clinician researchers. Students select a topic broadly within the fields of Ethics, Law and Professionalism, Public Health Medicine, and Indigenous Health, and are paired with a dedicated researcher (members of the ELP, PHM and IH teams) as an advisor to support them throughout the program. Students are also encouraged to engage with external stakeholders such as clinicians, researchers, and patient organisations in shaping their research.

The program culminates in a week-long MD Student Conference that showcases students’ work in the form of oral presentations and posters.

The outputs are always impressive - please take a virtual stroll through the 2023 BH DU medical student research exhibition