Dr Drew has a background in health sociology and youth studies and a PhD in public health. From late 2004 she held a postdoctoral position with the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne and the Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital. This month Dr Drew received academic promotion from the University of Melbourne to the position of Senior Research Fellow. This comes in recognition of her leading contribution to research and knowledge exchange at the interface of adolescent health service development and chronic illness experiences,
including cancer.
Dr Drew has produced a number of high quality research publications and been awarded significant funding from competitive grant schemes. She also contributes to the teaching program of the University of Melbourne via post-graduate lecturing and PhD supervision.
Her current work is diverse in focus and methodology, including qualitative interview, focus group and visual approaches, as well as mixed methods designs. This range of work coalesces around a core focus on how to better meet the supportive care, educational and
information needs of older patients in paediatric health care settings.
Dr Drew is currently seconded to the role of Adolescent and Young Adult Service Improvement Officer with the Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service and the Victorian and Tasmanian Youth Cancer Network. This role involves facilitating organizational change in the Children’s Cancer Centres at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre to promote a more adolescent-focused model of care, as well as contributing to the
development of a refined statewide model of adolescent and young adult cancer care services.
The work of this secondment position is enhanced by Dr Drew’s role as a chief investigator on the following projects:
- Cancer Australia funded research study: Fulfilling the vision of youth-friendly cancer care: How well are we meeting the psychosocial needs of AYA patients? (2011-2013)
and
- Australian Research Council funded study: Improving the participation of young people with chronic illness in triadic medical discussions about their health(2011-2013).
Dr Drew is coauthor of a book launched this month, arising from earlier work investigating how to support organizational change in schools to promote student health and wellbeing.
Dr Drew can be contacted on Ph: 9345 7924 or Email: sarah.drew@rch.org.au