Professor Dan Chambers, Executive Director Research
We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce that Metro North has welcomed Dr Sarah Winch RN BA Hons. PhD (Q) and Dr Lyn Woodward BAppSc (QUT), MAppSc (Brunel UK), MBioethcs (Monash Vic), PhD (JCU Qld) to Chair our two Human Research and Ethics Committees.
Lyn and Sarah are extremely well respected and credentialled health ethicists, researchers and educators who bring not only a wealth of diverse experience but also a broad range of skills and knowledge which will no doubt substantially enrich the research environment in Metro North.
Sarah brings extensive experience in research and healthcare ethics, management, research, and education. Previously, Sarah led the Medical Ethics, Law and Professionalism Theme at the University of Queensland Medical School and worked in health care executive roles in Queensland Health, Wesley Mission, Uniting Care and the Commonwealth government.
Dr Sarah Winch
As a member for 6 years of the Australian Health Ethics Committee Sarah contributed to the writing, analytical review, and functionality of multiple forms of guidance of research and clinical ethics, including the National Statement on the Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the Code for Responsible Research.
She has published over 70 academic articles and book chapters in addition to 2 editions of her Best Death Possible books for the community. Sarah has conducted over 200 ethics consultations and created the internationally recognised Compassion Café to promote compassion satisfaction for clinicians.
In addition to her role at Metro North, Sarah will continue as an Honorary Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, consulting in ethics and working on a series of realist fiction novels exploring current philosophical debates in healthcare.
Lynn is currently a senior lecturer teaching medical ethics and bioethics in the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University.
Lynn has a laboratory based background, with a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Immunology.
Dr Lyn Woodward
Her PhD project involved the development of a genetically modified subunit vaccine. Her work with genetic manipulations, and the potential uses of this technology, led to her interest in the field of bioethics and she completed a Masters of Bioethics at Monash University.
Lynn was awarded the Monash WHO Bioethics Fellowship and worked in the Ethics in Health Unit of the World Health Organization in Geneva. Lynn’s work at JCU includes a role with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine (AITHM), where she developed and manages the AITHM Biobank and is currently also coordinating a Phase I vaccine trial.
Her recent research interests include clinical ethics and biobanks, including the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in biobanking. She is a member of the JCU, Uni of Sunshine Coast (USC) and Townsville Hospital HRECs. She has also been a member of the Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee (GTECCC) since 2020.
Please join us in welcoming Lyn and Sarah to Metro North.