After working in the public health systems in Australia and the United Kingdom for eight years, it became clear that what was happening in research was not being translated and used in clinical practice and therefore patients were missing out on vital care because of this. It was at that point that I decided I wanted to do something about it.
My research vision is to improve the health service so that all patients receive equitable and high quality health care. Along the way, if I can change the poor health information that is out there and make people think more about how important lifestyle factors and other chronic disease affect musculoskeletal conditions that would be fantastic.
Simon Davidson is a Physiotherapist and PhD Candidate working with Hunter New England Population Health and the University of Newcastle's School of Medicine and Public Health in the field of musculoskeletal pain. He graduated in 2011 from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours. Since graduating Simon has worked in the public health system in Australia and the United Kingdom, primarily in the field of orthopaedics and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
Simon is currently completing his PhD with the HNE Musculoskeletal Health Program and University of Newcastle. His topic areas include: reporting quality of exercise interventions for low back pain, the effects of physiotherapy and lifestyle interventions on low back pain, utilising e-health to manage low back pain and also understanding how low back pain is managed in the public health system, particularly the Emergency Department. Simon also works as Physiotherapist and Project Officer for Hunter New England Local Health District Population Health.
My hope is that I can work with a range of stakeholders to improve how health information is provided and how the system manages individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. I would like to close the gap between the ‘research world’ and what happens in real clinical practice. As well as identifying ways that lifestyle management can be incorporated into health care to improve the management of chronic diseases.
