MACH-Track; a curated pathway for allied health clinician scientists
David Berlowitz1, 2, 3 , Sue Berney1, 2, 3 , Linda Denehy1, 4
1The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
4Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
The MACH(Melbourne Academic Centre for Health)-Track is a structured, mentored, and fully funded career development pathway for exceptional research-minded health practitioners. MACH-Track develops clinical innovation leadership by integrating advanced clinical training with pre-PhD, PhD, and post-PhD training. The 2021 & 2022 MACH-Track cohorts enrolled medical practitioners and was extended to include Physiotherapists, Midwifes, and Nurses in 2023.
The program entails.
Year 1. 80% Clinical training / 20% PhD run-in. Health Services employ successful trainees 1.0 FTE in their existing position and allow 0.2FTE for project-based research training. Towards year end trainees prepare their PhD proposal, defend it at interview, and revise as required. This preparation ensures the trainees “hit the ground running” in year 2.
Years 2, 3 & 4. 80% PhD / 20% clinical training. The three-year full-time University Research Training Program PhD studentship stipend is topped-up to the 175% maximum allowed ($60,200 tax-free pa in 2023). The parent health service supports clinical employment at 0.2 FTE.
Year 5- 80% Clinical training / 20% preparation for post-doc fellowship application. Trainees complete clinical training and/or take more senior career-grade appointments within their parent health services. 0.2FTE is set aside for thesis finalization, paper publication and, subject to external funding, continued research. The aim of this academic activity is to position the carefully mentored trainee for a post-doctoral fellowship enabling transition to professional independence.
Years 6 and 6+ Ongoing Clinician Scientist pathway support and mentorship.
The 2023 cohort enrolled two physiotherapists and one paediatric nurse alongside six medical trainees. There is an urgent and ongoing need to sustainably embed clinical research expertise within health services. Annual MACK-track cohorts are one part of the answer to this need. An evaluation strategy is under development and engagement with state and federal allied health officers regarding generalizability of the MACH-Track model is underway.
Biography
David Berlowitz is a Physiotherapist with the Victorian Respiratory Support Service who holds the University of Melbourne Chair in Physiotherapy at Austin Health. David’s research primarily focusses on the causes and treatments of sleep and breathing disorders in neuromuscular disease, especially Spinal Cord Injury and Motor Neurone Disease. David’s research encompasses physiology, health systems research, big data analytics, machine learning, decision support, and clinical trials of therapies and care models.