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Dr Catherine Keniry

BSc (Hons 1 – Genetics), USyd PhD University of Cambridge, UK

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Research

Catherine completed a BSc (Hons 1) in Genetics at University of Sydney followed by a PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. Catherine spent the first 20 years of her career in leadership roles in global organisations across applied science, human molecular diagnostics and human genetics portfolios, and 2 years with the Australian Genome Research Facility focussing on the expansion of genomics services to the research community in NSW.

Since 2023 Catherine has led the medical student research program at the School of Rural Medicine (SRM) and collaborates extensively with a network of rural clinicians, health services and networks to facilitate the execution of relevant and impactful research initiatives. Her primary research interest lies in enhancing health outcomes for individuals residing in rural areas. Consequently, her work emphasises the development of care models tailored to rural contexts, the examination of disparities in health service delivery, and the evaluation of various service models. Catherine frequently assumes the role of Coordinating Principal Investigator in projects, effectively uniting a diverse group of researchers across multiple health services. This collaborative approach yields a substantial dataset that informs both practice and policy. In her capacity with the SRM, Catherine is committed to developing research projects of specific interest to students – alongside and supporting rural clinicians.

She possesses a particular interest in Indigenous health research. Catherine is deeply committed to enhancing the research capabilities of rural clinicians. She has provided supervision to several registrars affiliated with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) in their Advanced Specialised Training projects. Catherine currently holds a position on the Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and serves as Co-Chair of the Western New South Wales Health Research Network (WHRN), the peak body for health research in the region.

Catherine’s research portfolio reflects a profound commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges of healthcare delivery in rural and underserved areas, evident through her involvement in a diverse array of projects that span various aspects of medical education, healthcare accessibility, and public health interventions.

The enhancement of medical workforce retention in rural areas has been a passion of Catherine’s since she joined the School. One project, "Enhancing rural retention of General Practitioner registrars: A mixed-methods pilot study" sought to identify effective strategies to encourage medical practitioners to remain in rural regions, and a current project "Staying or Leaving: The Influence of Spouses on the Recruitment and Retention of Rural and Remote Medical Practitioners in Australia," examines the social dynamics influencing medical professionals' decisions to practice in rural settings.

Catherine’s research also focuses on improving access to healthcare services in rural communities. The "Access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for Young Gay Bisexual MSM in Rural Areas- a project she contributes to alongside several CSU colleagues, aims to elucidate barriers to accessing critical preventive health measures. An ACRRM registrar AST Project - "Evaluating and identifying community effects of the local health district run single employer general practice model (the ‘4Ts’) using community perspectives" investigates local healthcare models that may enhance service delivery and patient outcomes. Another significant area of interest is the intersection of mental health, drug and alcohol and rural healthcare – evidenced by the establishment of the RADAR network (RADAR).

In her role in the SRM, Catherine engages with topics related to medical education and training, as evidenced by projects such as "Medical School Admission Processes to Target Rural Applicants: An International Scoping Review and Mapping of Australian Practices." This work aims to refine admission processes to better reflect the needs of rural communities, ensuring that future medical practitioners are equipped to address the specific health challenges of these populations.

Catherine supports clinicians in public health research, including spinal cord injury and hepatocellular carcinoma and musculoskeletal management. These projects highlight the importance of understanding disease management and treatment accessibility in rural contexts.

A number of Catherine’s research projects focus on social determinants of health, and others emphasise the necessity of culturally competent care and the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives in healthcare planning and delivery.

Catherine is dedicated to advancing rural health outcomes through a comprehensive understanding of medical education, workforce retention, healthcare accessibility, and the social determinants of health. Her work not only aims to improve health services in rural areas but also seeks to develop a more equitable healthcare system that addresses the unique needs of diverse populations.