An Ingham Institute researcher is in line to win a prestigious state award.
Annie Walsh, from the Liverpool Diabetes Collaborative Research Unit has been named as a finalist for the 2016 NSW Harvey Norman’s Young Woman of the Year Award.
The award is part of the annual NSW Woman of the Year Awards campaign.
Annie is both a researcher at the diabetes unit based at the Ingham Institute as well as a senior podiatrist at Liverpool Hospital.
She received her nomination for leading work in diabetes research, specifically targeting diabetic foot disease, a serious complication that is the number one cause for hospital admission in people with diabetes. Around 280 Australians develop diabetes every day[i] and South West Sydney now has the highest rate of diabetes in the whole of NSW, making Annie’s research critical for the health of the local community.
Some key highlights of Annie’s stellar career include working as an Associate Investigator in a world-first clinical trial of denosumab as a new wound infection prevention treatment for charcot foot, a condition suffered by diabetes patients. Through the completion of her Wound Care masters course, Annie is also leading new research to introduce new forms of electronic wound technologies like Apps to better measure and track the progression and severity of diabetic foot ulcers.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I’m absolutely thrilled to be named as a finalist for the 2016 NSW Harvey Norman Young Woman of the Year Award,” Ms Walsh said.[/social_quote]
“Starting and progressing a career as a young researcher is challenging and competitive so I’m extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to have such a hands-on role with the Liverpool Diabetes Collaborative Research Unit at the Ingham Institute and Liverpool Hospital.
“It is also gratifying to know that the work I’m doing will make a big difference to help prevent and advance treatment options to tackle diabetes, which is now the most common non-communicable disease globally.’’
An annual awards program, the NSW Women of the Year Awards recognises the outstanding contributions of women in NSW and celebrates their significant achievements.
The Harvey Norman Young Woman of the Year Award shines the spotlight on NSW women aged between 18 and30 who have excelled in their career, studies or community-related efforts.
Liverpool Hospital Head of Department for Podiatric Medicine and Ingham Institute diabetes unit senior research fellow Matthew Malone said that Ms Walsh’s finalist nomination was well deserved.
“Annie is an extremely talented young researcher who is working in a very niche and highly specialised area of diabetes research,” Mr Malone said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Her determination and passion to develop, innovate and improve treatments for diabetic foot disease is very inspiring.[/social_quote]
“I encourage you to vote for Annie to give her a platform to raise awareness about diabetic foot disease and the incredible work she is doing to help combat it to improve the health of Australian patients.
♦ The Ingham Institute is celebrating extraordinary women in science like Annie Walsh at its third annual luncheon this Friday, March 4 at Camden Lakeside Golf and Country Club.
