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Dean, Health Sciences and Medicine

BSc
MA
MB
BChir
MD
FRACGP
FAFPHM


Prof Del Mar was appointed as Dean of Health Sciences and Medicine at Bond University in 2004, and Pro-Vice Chancellor of research, Bond University, in 2005. Prior to this he was Professor of General Practice at the University of Queensland between 1995 and 2004. During this time he was also Head of the Division of Community Health and General Practice, and established and was inaugural director of the University of Queensland’s Inala Health Centre of General Practice. This practice continues to host considerable teaching and research activities. He was appointed visiting professor of general practice at Oxford University in 2007.

Research Highlights

In collaboration with others, Professor Del Mar set up an innovative ‘Evidence-based literature Search Service’ for GPs. This was completed (2000) and evaluated. The Medical Journal of Australia commissioned and published a series of short papers from this (and other literature search services), and other products from it published in BMJ and British Journal of General Practice.

He is also a pioneer in the development of n-of-1 trials, a form of individualised therapeutic testing. It is designed to formalise the ‘therapeutic trial’ provided by doctors for patients to test the efficacy of a drug in an individual clinical setting. The methodology has the potential to change several processes in general practice and primary care of prescribing for chronic conditions, including the way doctors decide what drug to use, how government might decide which drugs to subsidise, the doctor-patient relationship, patient responsibilities for self-care and GPs’ attitude to research.

Other Research Interests and Successes

Professor Del Mar’s outstanding research track record has lead to his being acknowledged as a leader in general practice research. His research interests include many aspects of general practice, such as skin cancer management, preventive health, women’s health, quality assurance, spontaneously remitting disease, medical records, and evidence-based medicine.

He has successfully obtained funding for, and conducted and published several controlled trials in, health services and also clinical research. To date he has received $4.33M in active grant funding, and $2.5M in the past completed.

Professor Del Mar’s bibliographic record is prolific and outstanding. He is a highly cited author who has published over 200 research papers, reviews, book chapter and books, which are summarised as follows:

  • 4 books, (2 as first named author);
  • 17 book chapters;
  • 132 peer reviewed scientific papers;
  • 83 refereed editorials, letters or comments;
  • 153 conference papers, published abstracts or reports.

He is also a Coordinating Editor of the international Cochrane Collaboration. In the past he was Editor of the research section of the Australian Family Physician, Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) National Research Committee, and President of the Australian Association for Academic General Practice. He chairs the editorial committee of the Australian Government’s health web portal, HealthInsite.

Professor Del Mar’s research into health services includes innovative ways of increasing the role of general practice nursing, increasing the rate of Vietnamese engagement with cervical cancer screening, use of computers in primary acre, and communication evidence to patients.

Download a more extensive listing of Chris Del Mar's publications.

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