Dr Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis is a part-time academic registrar, working under the mentorship of Professor Doris Young.
What is your current role?
I work at the General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre at the University of Melbourne, where I am undertaking a PhD and working on Stepping Up, a National Health and Medical Research Council-funded clinical trial of a new model of care for insulin initiation for people with type 2 diabetes in general practice. I also work two sessions per week doing general practice at a clinic in Essendon.
What inspired you to choose this career path?
I had a fantastic general practice rotation in the final semester of my medical degree at the University of Melbourne, working with Dr Jock Sowerby in St Leonards. Jock and his patients opened my eyes to what general practice could achieve for patients and to the importance of the general practitioner–patient relationship. Professor Doris Young broadened my perspective as to the role that GPs could play in education and research that could benefit how GPs work.
What do you find inspiring about Professor Young?
Doris is incredibly approachable. She will always give an honest assessment about my work — good or bad — but is always motivating, supportive and cognisant of “the big picture”. She has the ability to identify and bring together teams that can work together and complement each other based on their strengths. Regardless of how I’m feeling when I walk into her office, I always come out with new ideas and am ready to take on new challenges.
Where do you see your career heading in the future?
I aim to continue my diabetes and health services research as well as my clinical work.
- Cate Swannell