Kathryn Refshauge

Professor Kathryn Refshauge is Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney, serving as Professor of Allied Health with a focus on strategic partnerships and Professor of Physiotherapy in the Sydney School of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. She was the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences from 2012 to 2019, a position she regarded as her best job, enabling extensive engagement with health sector leaders at state and federal levels, including hospitals, local health districts, and primary health networks. Her career began with clinical practice in physiotherapy at hospitals and clinics, particularly in industrial areas, before joining the University of Sydney as a Level B academic to advance primary care initiatives. She progressed to Head of the School of Physiotherapy and took on subsequent leadership roles emphasizing collaboration between academia and healthcare providers. Currently, as Co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre, she promotes world-leading clinically focused research, highlighting achievements and fostering a supportive environment for researchers.

Refshauge's academic qualifications include a PhD, Master of Biomedical Engineering (MBiomedE), and Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy (GradDipManipTher). Her research specializations encompass improving community health through prevention of health problems and enhanced healthcare design, with specific interests in chronic low back pain, falls prevention in aged care, ankle sprains and instability, migraine and GABA levels, knee and patellofemoral osteoarthritis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, physical activity interventions, and complementary therapies for back pain. With 343 publications and over 26,628 citations, her work demonstrates significant impact in the field. Notable publications include 'Increase in ACC GABA+ levels correlate with decrease in migraine frequency, intensity and disability over time' (2021), 'Sunbeam Program Reduces Rate of Falls in Long-Term Care Residents With Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: Subgroup Analysis of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial' (2022), and 'A comprehensive guide to mega-press for GABA measurement' (2023). She has received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2016 for service to physiotherapy and medical education, and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS). Refshauge serves on the Clinician Council of the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network and advocates for patient-led care and collaborative leadership.

Professional Email: kathryn.refshauge@sydney.edu.au