Mr Hudson Birden

Senior Lecturer,
Public Health and Clinical Leadership

(RTS) Northern Rivers
University Dept of Rural Health
& North Coast Medical Education Collaboration
61 Uralba St
(PO Box 3074)
Lismore NSW 2480

Phone: +61 2 6620 7603
Fax: +61 2 6622 2151
Mobile:+61 437 575 047

http://www.nrudrh.edu.au/

(Update details)

Research Interests

Infectious diseases epidemiology, particularly sexually transmitted and zoonotic diseases and the influence of infectious diseases on human history

Flexible learning delivery systems (web-based course content, videoconferencing, distance learning)

Research capacity building in primary health care

Areas of postgraduate student supervision

Primary supervision, MPH research students

Primary supervision: PHC RED Researcher Development Program Placement Holders

Affiliated

Coordinator, MPH Program Southern Cross University

Clinical Assistant Professor of Health Science, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT USA

Clinical Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT USA

Teaching area

Epidemiology
Social and policy aspects of sexually transmitted diseases
Leadership in Medicine
Evidence based practice

Publications

Peer Reviewed/Refereed Journal Articles

Moran JG, Page SL, Birden HH, Fisher LM, Hancock NJ. Doctors trading places: The isolated practitioner peer support scheme. Medical Journal of Australia. 2009;191(2):78-80

Schofield D, Fletcher S, Fuller J, Birden H, Page S. Where do students in the health professions want to work? Human Resources for Health. 2009;7:74

Page S.L, Birden H.H, Hudson J.N, Thistlethwaite J.E, Roberts C, Wilson I, Bushnell J, Freedman S.B, Hogg J, Yeomans N.J. Medical schools can cooperate: a new joint venture by three faculties to provide medical education in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. A positive example in NSW Norther Rivers. The Medical Journal of Australia 2008;188(3):179-181.

Balderstone, M., Birden, H., Felton, D. Roadside tests for Cannabis: impairment, not prohibiton, shold be the issue. Of Substance 2008;6(2):4.

Birden, H.H. The researcher development program: how to extend the involvement of Australian general practitioners in research? Rural and Remote Health 7(online), 2007:(776). (http://www.rrh.org.au)

Birden H. 21st Century Medical Education. Australian Health Review 2007:31(3);341-50.

Sandstrom H, Birden H, O`Mara, J. The Caribbean Mosaic: A Team-Taught Course On Cultural Diversity. International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations 2007:6(5);163-172

Schofield D, Fuller J, Fletcher S, Birden H, Page S, Kostal K, Wagner S, Schultz L. Decision criteria in health professionals choosing a rural practice setting: development of the Careers in Rural Health Tracking Survey (CIRHTS). Rural and Remote Health 7 2007:666. (http://www.rrh.org.au)

Barnett L, Holden L, Donoghue D, Passey M and Birden H. What's needed to increase research capacity in rural primary health care? Australian J Primary Health. 2005; 11: 45-53.

Beard J, Birden H. The Role of the Public in the Management of Public Health Risks. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2004; 28 (5): 415-417.

Projects

Voluntary clinical teachers at the University of Sydney: barriers and motivating factors

Investigators Birden, H. Usherwood, T. Reid S.

This is a qualitative study to determine the motivators and barriers faced by clinicians through their efforts to provide voluntary teaching services to the Faculty of Medicine. A qualitative research method is appropriate for achieving an in-depth understanding of the experience of voluntary clinical teachers in the context of an ever changing medico-political, clinical and educational environment. Since the participation of voluntary clinical teachers is an essential component of the University of Sydney medical education program, this study will add knowledge relevant to the recruitment and retention of such clinicians.

Year to commence: 2008 Finish year: 2009

Chlamydia incidence and re-infection (CIRIS) study: a longitudinal study of young Australian Women

Investigators: Hudson Birden, Jane Hocking, Jane Walker, Christopher Fairley, Frank Bowden, Basil Donovan, John Kaldor, Jane Gunn, Marie Pirotta, Harindra Veerakathy, Lyle Gurrin, Suzanne Garland, Kathleen McNamee

Cohort study to determine: Prevalence of Chlamydia and Mycoplasma genitalium in young a Australian women. And how many young women with Chlamydia become re-infected (infected again) over a year.

Year to commence 2008 Finish year 2009

Personal and professional development (PPD) in medical education

Birden H, Wilson C, Farmer L, Usherwood T.

The aim of this project is to determine how PPD is conceptualised, understood, valued, and applied by rural clinicians who serve as clinical preceptors/supervisors for medical students through the NCMEC, and to develop a conceptual and practical approach to improved teaching of PPD. Components of the project include;

* A qualitative study to assess PPD attributes of current preceptors and determine how they developed

* A Best evidence in medical education (BEME) systematic review of the PPD literature

* A cohort study to track PPD evolution in medical students through their training and into their practice years

* A survey of PPD curricula across Australian med schools

* Development of a theoretical framework and curriculum model for PPD.

2008 - ongoing

A Human Response to Avian Influenza – Bali and lombok

Hunter C, Birden H, Booy R, et al

Development of strategy and series of action plans to acquire knowledge about, contain and control avian influenza in the region. Strategy will cover:

1) surveillance of the intense human and poultry interface, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand,

2) the response to outbreaks in poultry and humans and

3) surveillance of the path of migratory birds.

2009 - ongoing

Development and implementation of a model for a new community driven primary health care

Barclay L, Page S, Birden H, Saberi V, et al

Multi Purpose Service (MPS) facility to serve rural and remote areas to include communities up to 12,000 in size.