Rajendra Gyawali

Dr. Rajendra Gyawali is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research within the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University. He joined the Centre in 2022 and is actively involved in several key projects including the Medication Safety and Electronic Decision Support research and national aged care medication roundtable.

Dr. Gyawali's educational background includes:

• PhD in Optometry and Vision Science from UNSW Sydney (2018-2022)
• Masters in Optometry Research from University of KwaZulu Natal (2016-2017)
• Bachelor of Optometry from Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University (2005-2010)

His research focuses on developing, evaluating, and implementing evidence-based tools and programs to improve healthcare delivery across various settings. Dr. Gyawali is particularly interested in optimizing the use of routinely collected data to drive healthcare improvements, with special emphasis on eye care for diabetic patients, glaucoma care, and medication safety in aged care settings. His work bridges the gap between clinical practice and health systems research through implementation science approaches.

Dr. Gyawali's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on evidence-based eye care delivery systems, medication safety, and clinical decision support. His research employs diverse methodologies including Delphi studies, qualitative analysis, systematic reviews, and implementation science frameworks to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Gyawali has received several prestigious awards for his research excellence:

• The Brian Kirby Prize for Research Excellence in Optometry (2024)
• Dean's Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis (2023)
• Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellow (2022)
• William C. Ezell Fellowship (2019)

Before moving to Australia for his PhD, Dr. Gyawali practiced as an optometrist in Nepal and Maldives across private, hospital, and community settings. He also led the development of new optometry schools in Malawi, Eritrea, and Vietnam. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.