Background

As an authentic leader with a successful career in healthcare and public health research project management, I am passionate about making a difference in people’s lives. I hold a PhD, MPH, and certifications in nursing and midwifery, providing me with a deep understanding of research and hospital environments. I am outcomes-focused, highly organised, and adept at engaging effectively with a wide range of people. My current partnership role between Deakin University and Barwon Health enables me to cultivate positive relationships while addressing critical workforce issues and advancing quality and patient safety outcomes through collaborative research.

Research Focus

My current research focus is on improving patient safety, patient experience and the health workforce within a range of healthcare settings at Barwon Health. Other areas of interest are mother and child health, smoking cessation and equity.

Awards & Achievements

  • Evaluating the implementation of a multi-component intervention to optimise the timing and use of induction of labour. (2023) Dr S. Perlen, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety. within the Institute for Health Transformation (Deakin University), $10,279.06, 12 months.
  • Perlen, S., Kerr, C., Yelland, J., & Brown, S. (2014) A new multifaceted approach to smoking cessation advice and support in pregnancy at Sunshine Hospital. Major Research Grant ($20,000). Nurses Board of Victoria Legacy Limited.

Feature Publications

  • Pittet, L.F. et al. (2023) ‘Randomized Trial of BCG Vaccine to Protect against Covid-19 in Health Care Workers’, New England Journal of Medicine, 388(17), pp. 1582–1596. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2212616
  • Goldfeld S, Bryson H, Mensah F, Price A, Gold L, Orsini F, et al. (2022) Nurse home visiting to improve child and maternal outcomes: 5-year follow-up of an Australian randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE 17(11): e0277773. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277773.
  • Bryson, H., Perlen, S., Price, A., Mensah, F., Gold, L., Dakin, P., & Goldfeld, S. (2021). Patterns of maternal depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms from pregnancy to 5 years postpartum in an Australian cohort experiencing adversity. Archives of women’s mental health, 24(6), 987–997. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-021-01145-0
  • Chamberlain, C., O’Mara-Eves, A., Porter, J., Coleman, T., Perlen, S. M., Thomas, J., & McKenzie, J. E. (2017). Psychosocial interventions for supporting women to stop smoking in pregnancy. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2(2), CD001055. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001055.pub5
  • Chamberlain, C., Perlen, S., Brennan, S. et al.Evidence for a comprehensive approach to Aboriginal tobacco control to maintain the decline in smoking: an overview of reviews among Indigenous peoples. Syst Rev6, 135 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0520-9

How you can help

Participate in a Clinical Trial

To find out about Clinical Trials currently underway at Barwon Health, click here. To learn more about the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre, click here.

Donate

Research requires ongoing investment and there are several ways to support our work. You can make a donation today and contribute to an item on our research group’s wish list, consider a bequest in your will, or establish a lasting legacy fund in your name. No matter what size, your philanthropic support will deliver an immediate impact to this important work. To donate now or for more information, please contact the Barwon Health Foundation.

Page last updated: November 22, 2024