Welcome to this President’s Chat with Dr Clare Wood, an Occupational and Environmental Physician with an interest in practical policy and a former board member of the charity Workplace Health Without Borders.
The QMWS President’s Chat is back! In this edition, Dr Ira van der Steenstraten is joined by Dr Clare Wood to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked specialty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Together, they delve into the evolution of this field in Australia, its unique characteristics compared to other countries, and the training journey for those considering a career in this vital area.
Dr Wood highlights the expansive scope of the specialty—from injury management to environmental health—with a strong emphasis on prevention and systemic well-being. They also discuss the gap between occupational health expertise and its underutilization in healthcare workplace strategies, particularly concerning burnout prevention.
This episode is a must-listen for clinicians curious about this specialty, or anyone passionate about creating safer, healthier work environments.
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Biography
Dr Clare Wood trained at the University of Birmingham Medical School and worked for three years in the NHS before relocating to Brisbane. Initially working in Emergency Medicine, she soon realized that a lifetime of shift work wasn’t the right fit and transitioned into Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2010. After completing her training in Brisbane and Sydney, she was awarded her fellowship in 2017.
Dr Wood has since worked as the in-house occupational physician for government agencies (Dept. of Natural Resources and Mines) and at the University of Queensland, in addition to providing services across various industries in private practice. She has a particular interest in the health of healthcare workers, educators, researchers, and the performing arts sector. Outside of work, Dr Wood spends her time chauffeuring her children (unpaid Uber driver) and walking her dogs.
