AMA VICDOC Summer 2024 - Magazine - Page 24
CA RO L I N E
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KEETH’S CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE ENRICHED
THE FIELD OF OBSTETRICS AND PROVIDED
INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO JUNIOR CLINICIANS
AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY STILLBIRTH.
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His leadership in evaluating the Safer
Baby Bundle has significantly advanced
antenatal care practices in Australia.
He also led the development of the
Public Health Association of Australia's
Pregnancy Loss Position Statement,
advocating for better care for families
affected by miscarriage or stillbirth
and increased government funding for
pregnancy loss research. As a member
of the Stillbirth Advocacy Working
Group within the International Stillbirth
Alliance, he collaborates with fellow
clinicians to ensure that stillbirth
prevention remains a global health
priority, and that sufficient education
is provided to junior clinicians.
KEETH IS A DEVOTED MENTOR AND EDUCATOR.
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He has dedicated over 100 hours to
mentoring high school and medical
students, and junior doctors through
various programs at Monash University
and Monash Health. Keeth’s commitment
to fostering the growth of future medical
professionals is evident in the success of
his mentees and his active participation in
clinical teaching.
IN HIS CLINICAL WORK, KEETH CONSISTENTLY
RECEIVES COMMENDATION FROM PATIENTS FOR
HIS EMPATHETIC AND PATIENT-CENTRED CARE.
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Keeth’s ability to communicate treatment
plans clearly and ensure patients feel
heard and cared for has earned him
numerous expressions of gratitude and
the Monash Health Service Excellence
Award. Additionally, Keeth’s volunteer
24
AMA VI C TO RIA
work with The Water Well Project
highlights his dedication to addressing
healthcare disparities and promoting
health education among marginalised
populations. Through his compassionate
approach and relentless advocacy, Keeth
makes a difference in the workplace and
profoundly impacts the lives of those
he serves, earning the admiration and
respect of his colleagues and the broader
community.
KEET H
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MY INTEREST IN WOMEN’S HEALTH BEGAN
ON THE THIRD DAY OF MY O&G PLACEMENT
IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.
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I was scrubbed in for a C-section, trying
to stay out of the way as it was all so
new to me. After the consultant made
the incision, he guided my hands and
supported me to deliver the baby. I felt
the baby take his first breath in my
hands — air filling his lungs — and the
father, who was also in the room, looked
overjoyed and began to cry. It was such a
powerful moment. After that experience,
I immersed myself in women’s health
research, advocacy, and education. It is an
incredibly rewarding area of medicine.
I HAVE SEEN HOW DEVASTATING STILLBIRTH CAN
BE FOR FAMILIES AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
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This inspired my work on the Safer Baby
Bundle, developed by the Stillbirth Centre
of Research Excellence. First launched
in Victoria in 2019, the bundle includes
five evidence-based antenatal strategies
to reduce stillbirth. Our analysis of its
impact in Victoria has found that stillbirth
declined with no evidence of harm. This
data drove the bundle’s national rollout,
now implemented across Australia with
the potential to greatly reduce stillbirth.
