Jennifer Alison

Professor Jennifer Alison is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, having served as Professor of Respiratory Physiotherapy in the Discipline of Physiotherapy within the Sydney School of Health Sciences. She obtained her PhD, MSc with Distinction, and Diploma in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney. Throughout her distinguished career, Professor Alison has held pivotal clinical and academic roles, including Clinical Specialist in Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in the Sydney Local Health District. She has led the Lung and Heart Physiotherapy Research Group, served as Director of the Collaboration for the Advancement of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy, and acted as Teaching Team Leader and Clinical Coordinator for Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney. Additionally, she was appointed Professor of Allied Health in Chronic Diseases.

Professor Alison's research specializes in respiratory physiotherapy, with a focus on designing targeted exercise programs for individuals with chronic lung diseases to enhance lung function, boost physical activity participation, alleviate breathlessness and fatigue, improve quality of life, and decrease hospital admissions. She has spearheaded two National Health and Medical Research Council-funded projects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: one aimed at expanding access to pulmonary rehabilitation benefits across Australia, particularly in rural and remote areas through walking programs; the other evaluating the benefits of oxygen supplementation during exercise training compared to medical air. Her scholarly contributions include over 590 publications, amassing more than 44,000 citations, underscoring her profound influence on pulmonary rehabilitation and chronic respiratory disease management. Professor Alison has earned prestigious honors, such as the Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney in 2016; a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in the 2015 Australian Awards for University Teaching, recognizing her supervision fostering enquiring, independent research students; and the 50th Anniversary Medal from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. She has contributed to leadership as a member of the Discipline Leadership Team in Physiotherapy and various professional committees related to COPD.

Professional Email: jennifer.alison@sydney.edu.au