Professor Vanessa McDonald is a Professor of Nursing in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Newcastle, Australia and an honorary clinical nurse consultant in the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at John Hunter Hospital. She leads the Breathing and Lung Health Research Program at HMRI and is Director of the Centre of Excellence in Treatable Traits. She is also President Elect of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Her research interests are centred around the development of innovative approaches to the management of chronic airway diseases.  She is passionate about developing and implementing personalised medicine strategies that place the person at the centre of health care delivery. 

For over 25 years, Professor McDonald has developed expertise in respiratory clinical nursing practice and education, contributed extensively to respiratory health advocacy and health policy, and developed as an internationally recognised respiratory researcher.

She is committed to committed to improving the health and quality of life of people with lung disease in our region and internationally, and to the mission of lung health.