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Past symposia

View a summary of past PA Health Symposium events, including programs and keynote speakers.

2023

The 62nd Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium Medicine and Wellness: Promoting whole of person well-being was held in Brisbane from Tuesday 22–Friday 25 August 2023.

The 2023 four-day program was held as a hybrid event once again with both in-person and virtual attendees, encouraging in-person attendance while also offering an online experience for attendees to access the content via a virtual platform.

69 speakers presented in 19 sessions over the course of the event both in person and virtually. More than 1,000 delegates from across Queensland health services and research institutes attended the 2023 PAH Health Symposium. 

2022

The 61st Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium Sustainable healthcare: A future for all was held in Brisbane at the Translational Research Institute from Tuesday 23–Friday 26 August 2022.

The 2022 four-day program was a hybrid event with both in-person and virtual attendees, encouraging in-person attendance while also offering an online experience for attendees to access the content via a virtual platform.

81 speakers presented in 19 sessions over the course of the event both in person and virtually. 

The program showcased a variety of topics and explore how health services are working with patients, providers, systems and staff to build a sustainable and progressive health system underpinned by a culture of collaborative research, innovative service models and technology.

The week also featured Research Excellence Awards—poster exhibition and oral finalists and Clinical Education Excellence Awards.

2021

The 60th Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium Embracing diversity in healthcare was held in Brisbane from Tuesday 24–Friday 27 August 2021.

For the first time in its 60-year history, the 2021 four-day program was hosted entirely online, in light of the latest COVID-19 lockdowns and government enforced border closures throughout the country.

92 speakers presented in 19 sessions over the course of the event via Zoom which saw attendees dial in from their home or office throughout various parts of the country.

The Organising Committee was confident in delivering an engaging and memorable virtual symposium for all. This was the safest approach for the well-being of the attendees, speakers and sponsors.

Attendees were able to participate in interactive and engaging experiences via a Zoom webinar virtual platform. A virtual trade exhibition for our sponsors was also featured, while all attendees connected from the comfort and safety of their home or office.

The symposium featured an outstanding range of sessions that allowed presenters to show their work virtually (whether as an oral or poster presenter), as well as opportunities for networking with colleagues via the attendee app.

2020

Due to various considerations and impacts caused by COVID-19, the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium originally scheduled from 18–21 August 2020 was postponed.

2019

The 59th Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium was held in Brisbane from Tuesday 30 July to Friday 2 August 2019.

The theme was Connecting healthcare, better outcomes.

The way healthcare is delivered is changing. Healthcare and the patient experience are no longer confined to a doctor’s office or hospital ward, and traditional see-and-treat models of care – supported by physical structures and internal care delivery – cannot service the needs of a rapidly growing and dispersed population.

Showcasing current and emerging research topics, the symposium explored how health services are embracing change and working with patients, providers, and health workers to build a better-connected health system underpinned by collaborative research, innovative service models, health partnerships and technology.

Attendees learnt, networked and engaged with global experts, colleagues, peers and industry representatives at the 59th PAH Heath Symposium.

2018

The theme for the 58th PAH Health Symposium Humanity, technology and the evolution of healthcare was held from Tuesday 31 July to Friday 3 August 2018 with more than 1,500 delegates attended the symposium over three and a half days.

Technological advancements and associated research breakthroughs are revolutionising the way healthcare is delivered. From the adoption of electronic medical records and telehealth services, to advances in genomics, bio-medical engineering, 3D printing and other technology, modern healthcare is rapidly evolving.

The symposium explored the balance between utilising technology to improve efficiency and patient outcomes while maintaining the patient-clinician relationship, and showcased current and emerging research topics.

Exciting new session topics included addiction and mental health, cancer, dementia, genomics, human-machine collaboration, microbiome, non-lethal strangulation, renal, robotics in surgery, spinal trauma and more.

The week also featured Research Excellence Awards—poster exhibition and oral finalists and Clinical Education Excellence Awards.

2017

The theme for the 57th PAH Health Symposium Personalised medicine—the future of healthcare was a four-day event held from Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 August 2017

Following the success of the 2016 symposium, which explored healthcare in the digital age, the 2017 symposium extended the theme on shaping the future of healthcare. With innovative perspectives on the new frontier of personalised medicine, the symposium explored how the digital modernisation of technology and health systems lead to enhanced patient-centred care.

There were 15 sessions featuring renowned clinicians, researchers and expert speakers, The Multidisciplinary program addressed addiction and mental health, cancer, chronic disease, health innovation, inflammation, new technology, social issues, trauma and more.

The week also featured Research Excellence Awards—poster exhibition and oral finalists and Clinical Education Excellence Awards.

2016

The theme of the 2016 Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium Healthcare in the Digital Age was a three-day event, commencing on Monday 1– Wednesday 3 August 2016.

As the flagship event for the PAH, the symposium celebrated its 56th year in 2016. The symposium delivered an exciting program featuring expert clinician-researchers presenting leading advances in treatment, panels discussing the hot topics of their specialities, and the PAH-TRI Research Excellence Awards and Poster Exhibition—recognising next generation discoveries to influence the clinical space.

The Multidisciplinary program addressed new technology, addiction and mental health, cancer, chronic disease, health innovation, inflammation, trauma and more. With over 40 renowned clinicians and expert speakers and over 700 pre-registrations received, sessions reaching up to 90% capacity and the foyer filled with displays from the event sponsors, the 2016 symposium was a spectacular event. We look forward to developing the theme and program for 2017.

The week also featured Awards for Excellence in Education, PAH-TRI Research Excellence Awards—poster exhibition and oral finalists, including a Surgical Trainee Research Prize.

2015

The theme of the 2015 Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Health Symposium was Transforming Discoveries to Better Health.

The PAH, has a rich history of health care spanning over 100 years. Developments over recent years have brought the PAH campus to the forefront of shaping the future of health in Queensland, nationally and internationally.

The PAH is one of four major hospitals of Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners (BDHP).  Established in 2014 as an Advanced Health Science System, BDHP is a partnership of health services (Metro South and Metro North), universities (The University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology) and research institutes (TRI and Queensland Institute of Medical Research) the mission of which is to improve health care through partnerships by integrating teaching, research and clinical services.

In 2012, the Translational Research Institute (TRI) opened, bringing a unique, Australian-first ‘bench to bedside’ research institution aimed at transforming discoveries to better health care.

Central to the week’s program was Professor Carolyn Mountford, the Symposium’s International Fellow and Kurt Aaron Orator.  Professor Mountford is the new CEO and Director of Research of the TRI, taking over this year from Professor Ian Frazer.  As a world leader in magnetic resonance and spectroscopy technology, she brings a new dimension to health care using cutting edge technology to advance the understanding of disease causation and accelerate early diagnosis of disease in all body systems.

The Symposium’s program was built on the PAH’s flagship themes of Cancer, Chronic Disease, Trauma, Immunology and Inflammation, Mental Health, and Health Systems Innovation, and is augmented by sessions on:

  • The Digital Hospital
  • Debate:  Technology – a hindrance to patient care?
  • Translating Research into Clinical Practice.

The week also featured educational forums, Young Investigator Awards and poster communications.

2014

2014 marks the first anniversary of the Translational Research Institute and the second anniversary of Diamantina Health Partners (DHP), Queensland’s first academic health science centre. These strategic developments bring together research, teaching and treatment, to consolidate the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus at the forefront of shaping the future of health in Queensland, nationally and internationally.

Central to the Symposium program is Professor Boris Bastian, University of California, San Francisco, this year’s International Fellow. As an eminent clinical scientist, he will illustrate in his keynote address how interdisciplinary and global partnerships have advanced the understanding of the causes of skin cancers and are translating this new knowledge to novel therapies for their treatment. Professor Bastian is also this year’s Kurt Aaron Orator.

The core program this year is aligned to the flagship themes of DHP, whose mission it is to achieve better health globally through the integration of clinical care, research and education. The DHP themes are:

  • Cancer
  • Chronic Disease
  • Trauma and Recovery
  • Immunity and Inflammation
  • Mental Health
  • Health Innovation.

Symposium week will feature engaging educational forums covering mass media and consumer alliance. The program will be augmented by sessions on new technologies, by oral and poster communication, and by awards and will culminate in a special session entitled PAH Health Odyssey, showcasing a rich history of transforming health care delivery on campus.

As always, the PAH Health Symposium was augmented by a multidisciplinary program of oral and poster communications – awarding the best basic, medical, surgical, nursing and allied health research with the prestigious PAH Week Awards. The winners were:

  • Covidien Surgical Trainee Research Prize: Dr Nick Butler - $1500 Prize
  • General Surgeons Group Surgical Trainee Research Prize: Dr Dale Wood - $1000 Prize
  • Award for Excellence in Resident Education: Dr Georgia Livesay - $1000 Bursary
  • Award for Excellence in Nursing Education: Donna McLean - $1000 Bursary
  • Award for Excellence in Allied Health Education: Janelle Gesch- $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Junior Researcher (Clinical): Colm Keane - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Junior Researcher (Basic Science): Dannielle Jane Borg - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Student (Clinical): Michael Tallack - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Student (Basic Science): Soi Cheng Law - $1000 Bursary
  • Poster Expo - Best Clinical Poster: Ryan Chai - $250, Sponsored by PA Research Foundation
  • Poster Expo - Best Basic Science Poster: Pelin Tufekci - $250, Sponsored by PA Research Foundation
  • Poster Expo - People's Choice Award: Arutha Kulasinghe - iPad mini, Sponsored by Agilent Technologies
  • PA Research Foundation Jnr Doctors Research prize: Lisa Major and Susan Scott - $500 bursary each

Program and keynote speaker

2013

The year 2013 was an exciting time for the hospital. We moved into the new Translational Research Institute (TRI) on the PAH campus, bringing together the country's leading research groups in one building for the first time. We are also building on the establishment of Queensland's first academic health science centre, the Diamantina Health Partners.

With the exciting academic growth and health care development on the PAH campus, the 2013 Symposium highlighted how translational research and partnerships in health disciplines are leading to new technologies, improved and more cost-effective treatments for chronic disease, immunology, inflammation and inflammation, cancer, trauma and rehabilitation, and neuroscience and mental health. Educational sessions covered the integrated electronic medical record, there was a debate on the use of social media, and a celebratory presentation on the PAH Centres for Health Research.

The PAH Health Symposium was augmented by a multidisciplinary program of oral and poster communications – awarding the best basic, medical, surgical, nursing and allied health research with the prestigious PAH Week Awards. The winners were:

  • Covidien Surgical Trainer Research Prize: Dr Anistha Karunairajah - $1500 Prize
  • General Surgeons Group Surgical Trainee Research Prize: Dr Adrienne Wilson - $1000 Prize
  • Award for Excellence in Resident Education: Dr Mark Deuble - $1000 Bursary
  • Award for Excellence in Nursing Education: Andrea Thompson - $1000 Bursary
  • Award for Excellence in Allied Health Education: Sarah Bowden - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Junior Researcher (Clinical): Emma Taylor - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Junior Researcher (Basic Science): Linda Gallo - $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Student (Clinical): Emma McMahon- $1000 Bursary
  • Young Investigator Award - Student (Basic Science): Steven Taylor - $1000 Bursary
  • Poster Expo - Best Clinical Poster: Veronique Chachay - $1000 Bursary
  • Poster Expo - Best Basic Science Poster: Jana McCaskell - $1000 Bursary
  • Poster Expo - People's Choice Award: Nathan Klose - $1000 Bursary

Program and keynote speaker

2012

2012 marked the awaited completion of the Translational Research Institute and the establishment of Queensland’s first academic health science centre, the Diamantina Health Partners, on the PAH campus. These endeavours placed the PAH campus at the forefront in shaping the future of health in Queensland, nationally and internationally. Professor Paul Stewart, Dean of Medicine University of Birmingham, was 2012's keynote speaker.

With the exciting academic growth and health care development on the PAH campus, the 2012 Symposium highlighted how translational research and partnerships in health disciplines are leading to smarter use of drugs, improved and more cost-effective treatments for cancer; trauma; inflammation; cardiovascular disease and frailty. Educational sessions covered integrating health service with smart e-applications and digital technologies and experts lead workshops in statistics and grant writing.

The PAH Health Symposium was augmented by a multidisciplinary program of oral and poster communications – awarding the best basic, medical, surgical, nursing and allied health research with the prestigious PAH Week Awards.

Program and keynote speaker

2011

The 2011 Health Symposium builds on the tradition and represents PAH Week in its 51st year. This Symposium builds on the considerable achievements of research showcased over more than a half century of PAH Week. So why the name change? The change is symbolic of the metamorphosis of PAH from a major reputable Brisbane hospital to a leading health institution of the modern era at the heart of the Diamantina Health Partners, Queensland’s first Academic Health Science Centre. The name change formalises ‘a week’ of activities into a research and clinical innovation showcase structured within a thematic Symposium. The issues we address are globally relevant and achievements recognised internationally.

To mark the occasion, the Health Symposium featured an international keynote speaker of eminence. Our keynote speaker, Professor John Wass, delivered a plenary lecture at the start of the symposium as well as the traditional Kurt Aaron Oration on the Friday. Professor Wass is an eminent Endocrinologist from Oxford University in the UK. He is a distinguished researcher, clinician and educator, renowned for his work on hormones and metabolic health.

Each session during the week focused on the issues within a particular disease group: inflammation, hypertension, cancer and diabetes. Two interactive workshops were also incorporated into the program: Technology in Healthcare and Innovative Therapies. The program featured a broad cross-section of specialties and streams, reflective of the PAH community itself.

Program and keynote speaker

2010

The focus for this year's PAH Week will be on the challenges of continuing to improve patient management in a world that is changing in terms of the patients we are seeing; the diseases they have; evolving models of care and innovations in clinical management and our understanding of diseases.

We will consider the past and what has worked in terms of dealing with change as well as looking at new models of clinical care and practical improvements that are being undertaken at the hospital now. And we will look to the future – the exciting new research being performed on the PAH campus; the organisational and financial changes facing the hospital; and the promise of new technologies and techniques.

One of the major roles of the week is to highlight research on campus and there will be oral presentations for the annual Young Investigator Awards on two mornings, as well posters from researchers on campus. The title for this year’s oration is “Taking evidence based parenting interventions community wide: Lessons from large scale population trials”. The organising committee are excited that the oration will look at an internationally recognised and innovative program that has improved health in its broadest context within the general community.

Program and keynote speaker

2009

This is the 49th annual PAH  Week and the theme is “No one works in isolation: challenges, opportunities and rewards”. The Princess Alexandra Hospital has been providing medical services to Queenslanders for over 50 years.  We have changed the structure of the week. One of the key changes is to try to have a clinical focus for the sessions, to tie together presentations, be they on ways of managing clinical problems, or developments in research related to key clinical issues. There will be a different clinical theme for each day. In the recent past, sessions have been designated as belonging to specific disciplines - medical, nursing, allied health of research. However, all these groups work together, so sessions will integrate the various disciplines in relation to the clinical scenario.

There are some exciting new developments for this year’s program. On Monday morning there will be an interactive forum with senior staff from the hospital and community. This session will be hosted by Phillip Adams from the ABC and should be an entertaining and provocative start to the week. The ancillary support staff who contribute so much to the running of the hospital will have their own session and I encourage clinical staff to attend to get a better understanding of what it takes to keep the hospital running.

There will also be a number of workshops around translational research, communicating more effectively, and clinical education. One of the major roles of the week is to highlight research on campus and there will be young investigator award oral presentations on two mornings, as well posters from researchers on campus.

Program and keynote speaker

2008

PAH is a major transplant centre in Queensland and, since 1969, over 2800 kidney transplants and almost 900 liver transplants have been performed at the hospital. In addition PAH performs corneal, heart valve and bone transplants and assists in the procurement and storage of these and other tissues for transplantation. Transplant procedures are life changing and the pre- and post-transplant care of patients has improved dramatically over time. But there are still major challenges, particularly a shrinking donor pool and an increasing numbers of people needing transplants, so we need to think about ways to maximise outcomes with donated tissue. This year’s program, centred around the theme ‘Transplantation: now and in the future’, is varied and should have something for everyone.

Program and keynote speaker

Last updated 28 June 2024
Last reviewed 5 April 2024