The University of Western Australia
Professor Christine McMenamin
Professor
Contact details
| Address | General Practice The University of Western Australia (M706) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 9449 5130 |
| Fax | 9384 6238 |
| christine.mcmenamin@uwa.edu.au |
Biography
Born and educated in Scotland before emigrating to Perth, Western Australia in 1987 as the Wynn Spence post-doctoral fellow at the University of Western Australia in the area of Immunology. Following a successful career in science, I commenced in the medical course at the University of Western Australia in 1994 and graduated in 1999. I pursued training in general practice and was awarded my fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2003. I commenced my teaching role at the University of Western Australia in that year and have been in the Discipline of General Practice from that time. My husband is also an academic at the University of Western Australia and one of our two children is also a student at the university.
Key research
- Before commencing the study of medicine I was a well established scientist in the field of T-cell immunology. My higher degree of PhD from the University of Glasgow in 1986 was followed by the publication of over 40 original papers in high impact factor journals (eg. Science) as well as numerous book chapters in established texts. My H-index (Hirsch index) is 18 where an index of 20 for a scientist of 20 years standing means that you are “successful” whereas I was an active laboratory scientist for only 8 years. I have two papers that have been cited more than 300 times (see publication list).
- In 2007, the Faculty of Medicine celebrated the 50th anniversary of establishment. As part of the celebrations a research day was held to laud the praises of the medical research that had been carried out at the university in the past 50 years. A citation table was drawn up of all the publications from Faculty alumni and present academic staff. The top fifty publications were then presented for special recognition on the Research Symposium day. I was very pleased to find that I had three papers in the top 50, two of which where I was first author. I was most humbled to be in the esteemed company with the university’s two Nobel laureates, Professors Marshall and Warren.
Major research interests
- Aged care
- Child health
- Immunology
- Medical education
Qualifications
MB BS W.Aust., BSc PhD Glas., DCH, FRACGP
Publications
The top three most cited papers:
McMenamin C., Pimm C., McKersey M. & Holt PG. (1994) Regulation of IgE responses to inhaled antigen in mice by antigen-specific gamma delta T cells. Science 265:1869-71. [312]
Holt PG., Oliver J., Bilyk N., McMenamin C., McMenamin PG., Kraal G. & Thepen T. (1993) Downregulation of the antigen presenting cell function(s) of pulmonary dendritic cells in vivo by resident alveolar macrophages. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 177:397-407. [306]
McMenamin C. & Holt PG. (1993) The natural immune response to inhaled soluble protein antigens involves major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CD8+ T cell-mediated but MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cell-dependent immune deviation resulting in selective suppression of immunoglobulin E production. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 178:889-99. [276]
McMenamin C., Pimm C., McKersey M. & Holt PG. (1994) Regulation of IgE responses to inhaled antigen in mice by antigen-specific gamma delta T cells. Science 265:1869-71. [312]
Holt PG., Oliver J., Bilyk N., McMenamin C., McMenamin PG., Kraal G. & Thepen T. (1993) Downregulation of the antigen presenting cell function(s) of pulmonary dendritic cells in vivo by resident alveolar macrophages. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 177:397-407. [306]
McMenamin C. & Holt PG. (1993) The natural immune response to inhaled soluble protein antigens involves major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CD8+ T cell-mediated but MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cell-dependent immune deviation resulting in selective suppression of immunoglobulin E production. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 178:889-99. [276]
Roles, responsibilities and expertise
Director of Teaching in the Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
The Discipline of General Practice has a footprint in all six years of the MBBS course. I lead the General Practice teaching team and I am responsible for the curriculum, coordination and teaching in Foundations of Clinical Practice (yrs1-3) and General Practice (Yrs 4 & 5) as well as the Rural and Remote General Practice unit (Yr6) and Graduate Entry Program.
i am also a clinician in private general practice, Claremont General Practice, Claremont, Western Australia
The Discipline of General Practice has a footprint in all six years of the MBBS course. I lead the General Practice teaching team and I am responsible for the curriculum, coordination and teaching in Foundations of Clinical Practice (yrs1-3) and General Practice (Yrs 4 & 5) as well as the Rural and Remote General Practice unit (Yr6) and Graduate Entry Program.
i am also a clinician in private general practice, Claremont General Practice, Claremont, Western Australia
Future research
Since my appointment in the Discipline of General Practice, I have begun to establish a research focus in medical education. Along with a research officer, Dr Nicole Koehler to assist in this regard, we have three papers in preparation for publication this year. The areas of interest are: student attitudes to peer-peer physical examination, improving clinical experiences on campus using volunteer patients, peer-peer teaching.
Funding received
2008: Vice Chancellor's Discretionary Fund
$150,000
Research Development Grant $8,750
Innovations in Teaching & Learning(Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Science)$7,500
$150,000
Research Development Grant $8,750
Innovations in Teaching & Learning(Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Science)$7,500
Memberships
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Member of the Australian Medical Association
Member of Medical Defence Australia
Member of the Australian Medical Association
Member of Medical Defence Australia
Honours and awards
1992: Young Investigator’s Award from the International Union of Immunological Societies to attend the International Congress of Immunology in Budapest, Hungary.
1991: Young Investigator’s Award from the International Congress for Allergology & Clinical Immunology (Kyoto, Japan).
1990: Young Researcher of the Year Award from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
1986: Canadian Society for Immunology Young Scientist Award to attend the VIth Congress of Immunology in Canada.
1986: British Society for Immunology Young Scientist Award to attend the VIth Congress of Immunology in Canada.
1991: Young Investigator’s Award from the International Congress for Allergology & Clinical Immunology (Kyoto, Japan).
1990: Young Researcher of the Year Award from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
1986: Canadian Society for Immunology Young Scientist Award to attend the VIth Congress of Immunology in Canada.
1986: British Society for Immunology Young Scientist Award to attend the VIth Congress of Immunology in Canada.
Previous positions
Yr 2007: Senior Lecturer, Clinical Skills Coordinator, Yr 1-3 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
Subdean and Academic Monitor (Student Affairs), Yr 1-3 MBBS.
Yr 2006: Senior Lecturer, Clinical Skills Coordinator, Yr 1 & 3 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
Yr 2005: Clinical Skills Coordinator , Yr 1 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
Clinical Tutor in Yrs 2 & 3 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, UWA.
Subdean for student affairs (1st year).
Yr 2004: Clinical Tutor in Discipline of General Practice, UWA: teaching Clinical Skills in Yrs1-3 MBBS course.
2002-09 General Practitioner
Yr 2000-2 Resident Medical Officer at hospitals in Perth, WA.
Whilst studying towards the degree of MBBS I held the following part-time appointments.
1998-1999 Academic Tutor to aboriginal medical, science and nursing students at the Centre for Aboriginal Programs, University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University.
1997-1999 Phlebotomist at General Pathology Laboratories, Fremantle.
1997-1999 Scientific Adviser to the Division of Clinical Sciences, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, WA.
1994-1997 Senior Research Fellow in the Divisions of Cell Biology & Clinical Sciences, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, WA.
Appointments held before returning to full-time study in MBBS course
1989-94 Senior Research Fellow in the Division of Cell Biology, TVW Telethon Institute for Child
Health Research (formerly the Clinical Immunology Research Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital) funded by the NH&MRC to research aspects of IgE production and regulation.
1988-1989 Holder of the Wynn Spence Medical Fellowship from the University of Western Australia to study aspects of IgE production and regulation at the Clinical Immunology Research Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Aug-Nov 87 Research Officer in the Dept. of Clinical Immunology, Royal Perth Hospital working on aspects of IgA deficiency funded by the NH&MRC.
1981 Research Assistant, Dept. of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Glasgow, Scotland.
Subdean and Academic Monitor (Student Affairs), Yr 1-3 MBBS.
Yr 2006: Senior Lecturer, Clinical Skills Coordinator, Yr 1 & 3 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
Yr 2005: Clinical Skills Coordinator , Yr 1 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.
Clinical Tutor in Yrs 2 & 3 MBBS in Discipline of General Practice, UWA.
Subdean for student affairs (1st year).
Yr 2004: Clinical Tutor in Discipline of General Practice, UWA: teaching Clinical Skills in Yrs1-3 MBBS course.
2002-09 General Practitioner
Yr 2000-2 Resident Medical Officer at hospitals in Perth, WA.
Whilst studying towards the degree of MBBS I held the following part-time appointments.
1998-1999 Academic Tutor to aboriginal medical, science and nursing students at the Centre for Aboriginal Programs, University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University.
1997-1999 Phlebotomist at General Pathology Laboratories, Fremantle.
1997-1999 Scientific Adviser to the Division of Clinical Sciences, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, WA.
1994-1997 Senior Research Fellow in the Divisions of Cell Biology & Clinical Sciences, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, WA.
Appointments held before returning to full-time study in MBBS course
1989-94 Senior Research Fellow in the Division of Cell Biology, TVW Telethon Institute for Child
Health Research (formerly the Clinical Immunology Research Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital) funded by the NH&MRC to research aspects of IgE production and regulation.
1988-1989 Holder of the Wynn Spence Medical Fellowship from the University of Western Australia to study aspects of IgE production and regulation at the Clinical Immunology Research Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Aug-Nov 87 Research Officer in the Dept. of Clinical Immunology, Royal Perth Hospital working on aspects of IgA deficiency funded by the NH&MRC.
1981 Research Assistant, Dept. of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Glasgow, Scotland.
Teaching
Clinical Skills
General Practice
General Practice
Current external positions
Director of Perth Primary Care Network
Current projects
Peer-Peer Physical Examination Policy at UWA
Improving clinical experiences on campus using volunteer patients
Residential Aged Care Facilities: an untapped teaching resource.
Peer-Peer Teaching of Clinical Skills: student attitudes.
Development of a patient database to provide undergraduate medical students a resource of real life patients with which to provide accurate representation of different disease states.
The use of an audience response system in the Graduate Entry Program for the improvement of students learning
Improving clinical experiences on campus using volunteer patients
Residential Aged Care Facilities: an untapped teaching resource.
Peer-Peer Teaching of Clinical Skills: student attitudes.
Development of a patient database to provide undergraduate medical students a resource of real life patients with which to provide accurate representation of different disease states.
The use of an audience response system in the Graduate Entry Program for the improvement of students learning
Research profile
