Congratulations to respiratory health clinician-researcher Dr Pamela Laird, who has won Allied Health Researcher of the Year at the WA Excellence in Allied Health Awards.
The awards, held on Thursday night, recognise the phenomenal work of allied health workers across Western Australia who have made an outstanding contribution to their field.
Dr Laird is a Senior Clinician Research Fellow with the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre at The Kids and a paediatric respiratory physiotherapist at Perth Children’s Hospital.
The award adds to a great year for Dr Laird, who in August was named joint Early Career Researcher of the Year at the Premier’s Science Awards in recognition of her significant contribution towards reducing the chronic respiratory disease burden in Aboriginal children.
Through her work with Wal-yan Dr Laird has co-developed a medical follow-up strategy to prevent chronic lung disease in Aboriginal children who are hospitalised with acute chest infections. The strategy was highly successful at Perth Children’s Hospital and is now routine practice.
“It has been exciting to see Perth Children’s Hospital clinicians adopt the new processes and it’s even more exciting to see this project expand across Australia,” Dr Laird said.
“In particular, being able to work with regional health services and local communities and see local physiotherapists have opportunities to become researchers is a privilege.”
Dr Laird was acknowledged for her passionate advocacy and impact in improving respiratory health outcomes for WA’s Aboriginal children, her contribution to national and international guidelines, and her research mentorship of junior clinicians throughout WA. As part of her work with Aboriginal communities and health services Dr Laird has co-created highly accessible resources that, together with her research, have already helped save more than 1000 little lungs.
Congratulations Dr Laird!