Northern Health is proud to celebrate the success of Dr Karen Kiang on her recent acceptance into the MacHSR (Masters in Health Services Research) Future Leaders Fellowship program.

This significant achievement reflects her dedication to advancing health equity, innovation and environmental sustainability in healthcare.

“The fellowship offers protected research time, which is critical to ensure that my project is given the thought and attention that it deserves. I hope this opportunity helps me establish research independence and serves as a springboard for future projects and funding,” she said.

Currently, Dr Kiang serves not only at Northern Health through the VVED, but also as the Clinical Lead in Sustainability at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Her passion lies in addressing access and equity issues in healthcare, particularly for underserved populations, including refugee and asylum seekers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and those living in rural and low-income settings.

Over the past decade, Dr Kiang has become a strong voice in advocating for the child health impacts of climate change and sustainable healthcare practices. Through her MacHSR project, she will focus on quantifying the environmental benefits of the VVED model of care.

“Almost 40 per cent of emergency department (ED) presentations in Victoria are lower-urgency cases that don’t necessarily require physical ED care. The VVED provides a state-wide virtual service that not only helps reduce overcrowding in ED’s but also delivers considerable environmental savings by avoiding unnecessary travel and resource use,” she explained.

Dr Kiang’s research aims to compare the environmental costs of physical ED visits with the savings achieved through virtual care models like VVED.

“Environmental stewardship is increasingly being prioritised in healthcare, while at minimum maintaining, and hopefully improving, clinical outcomes. Demonstrating the environmental benefits of VVED will not only support ongoing investment in the program but will also strengthen Northern Health’s position as a leader in sustainable and innovative healthcare delivery,” she said.

Dr Kiang’s fellowship highlights Northern Health’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and health equity. We look forward to the impact her research will have on the future of healthcare delivery.