The Fellows Program formally began in 2020, although the Cunninghams have been supporting Fellow positions since 2013 through the Cunningham Uspace Registrar Fellowship.
An additional four new Cunningham Fellows were established this year in:
- Upper Gastro-intestinal Surgery
- Emergency Psychiatry
- Mental Health Nurse Education
- Interventional Cardiology (TAVI)
This brings the total number of current annual Cunningham Fellows to 11. The new Cunningham Fellows roles will be filled during 2022, and aim to attract the most talented clinicians to work with senior clinicians to help further develop clinical research and innovation.
At St Vincent’s Emergency Department, ten percent of people presenting are experiencing a mental health disorder – almost three times the national average. Roughly half of the people who present to us are in crisis: suicidal, at moments of unimaginable hopelessness and desperation.
On behalf of the vulnerable people to whom we devote our time and for whom I think this fellowship was ultimately created for, I humbly thank John and Margaret Cunningham for this incredible grant.
Dr Cameron Grover, 2022 Cunningham Fellow in Emergency Psychiatry
