معرفی
Professor Elizabeth Ward holds a joint position as Director of the Centre for Functioning and Health (CFAHR) at Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, and Conjoint Professor with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. Her clinical and research work bridges academic and healthcare settings, focusing on improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice and innovative service delivery models.
- Conjoint Professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
- Professor in Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Director, Centre for Functioning and Health (CFAHR), Metro South Hospital and Health Service
- Affiliate, Centre of Research Excellence in Telehealth (CRE)
Professor Ward's research program centers on adult acute services, with particular emphasis on head and neck cancer management, critical care, and dysphagia management. Her work explores digital service delivery models (particularly telehealth), new workforce models, and clinical training models including simulation. She has extensive expertise in evaluating new models of care and improving health service provision within speech pathology.
Her publication record demonstrates strong focus on telehealth applications in dysphagia management, head and neck cancer rehabilitation, and service delivery innovations. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on implementation science frameworks, cross-cultural applications of telehealth services, and developing capability frameworks for allied health research careers. Her work spans clinical trials, systematic reviews, and implementation evaluations across multiple healthcare settings.
- Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia (2014)
- Multiple UQ teaching awards
Professor Ward has supervised over 40 students to successful completion of their research higher degrees and currently has numerous active PhD students. Her research program is well-funded with current projects including 'Evaluating a virtual health navigator role to optimise virtual care adoption in nutrition services' (2025-2026). She has received competitive funding from NHMRC, ARC, Queensland Health, and various hospital foundations throughout her career.
As Director of the Centre for Functioning and Health Research and through her Telerehabilitation Research Unit, Professor Ward leads teams focused on translating research into clinical practice, with particular emphasis on improving access to speech pathology services through innovative models of care delivery.
