Clare Heal

Professor Clare Heal is a distinguished academic and researcher at James Cook University's College of Medicine and Dentistry, specializing in the Department of General Practice and Rural Medicine. With over 100 publications spanning from 2010 to 2025, she has established herself as a leading figure in general practice research, dermatological surgery, and public health interventions in the Australian context, particularly focusing on rural and tropical health issues.

Her research interests span several interconnected domains including surgical site infection prevention, medical education innovations, transgender healthcare access, infectious disease management in primary care, and the detection and management of familial hypercholesterolemia. Professor Heal has made significant contributions to understanding optimal antibiotic use in general practice, particularly regarding streptococcal infections and surgical prophylaxis. Her work on transgender healthcare has been influential in highlighting systemic barriers and improving care models for gender-diverse populations in primary care settings.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice in primary care, with particular focus on diagnostic accuracy, clinical prediction rules, and implementation science. Her research often takes a pragmatic approach to solving real-world clinical problems faced by general practitioners, with strong emphasis on the Australian healthcare context. She has led multiple collaborative studies involving researchers from across Australia, demonstrating her role as a connector within the academic general practice community.

Professor Heal has supervised numerous research students and early-career researchers, with many of her publications featuring junior colleagues as first authors. Her work on medical education, particularly regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), has helped shape assessment practices across Australian medical schools, especially during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her research program demonstrates consistent funding support and collaboration with major Australian research institutions and clinical networks. She has been particularly active in translating research findings into practical clinical guidance for general practitioners, with numerous publications in the Australian Journal of General Practice and other clinically oriented journals.