Assoc. Professor Renuka Visvanathan

Biography/ Background

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR RENUKA VISVANATHAN 

PhD, FRACP, G.Cert. Ed (Higher Education), MBBS, ATCL

 

Research Group----HEALTH OBSERVATORY-    http://www.thehealthobservatory.org.au/

 

 

CURRENT POSITION:

Associate Professor in Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, 2008+ (tenured)

Director, Aged and Extended Care Services,Central Adelaide Local Health Network, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia- 2005+

 

STAFF

CLINICAL GERIATRICIANS

• Dr Kandiah Parasivam
• Dr Solomon Yu
• Dr Jason Ng
• Dr Faizal Ibrahim
• Dr Pazhvoor Shibu

 

 

CLINICAL SPECIALIST REGISTRARS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE

 

ACADEMIC PERSONNEL

• Dr Neha Mahajan- Teaching
• Dr Cynthia Piantadosi- Research

RESEARCH STUDENTS

PhD 

• Dr Solomon Yu (Geriatrics)
• Ms Elsa Dent (Nutrition and Ageing)

 Masters

Dr Shailaja Nair (Geriatrics)

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

Postgraduate/Professional Qualifications:

¨              2010 Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education), University of Adelaide

¨              2005 PhD in Medicine, University of Adelaide

¨              2003- FRACP- Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

         (sub-specialty – Geriatric Medicine)

¨              1997- MBBS- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Adelaide

¨              1987- ATCL- Associate of the Trinity College of Music London (Pianoforte Performance)

 Leadership:

¨              2010- SA Health Leads Future Leaders Program-completed May 31^st 2010

¨              2007- University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health Science Leadership Program

 

Awards & Achievements

Postgraduate  (1997 Onwards) 

·               2010 Finalist- Geriatric and Evaluation Management Services, the Aged & Extended Care Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital -SA (South Australia) Health Awards: Enhancing Hospital Care

·               2009 Finalist- the CNAHS Regional Falls Program- SA Health Awards: Strengthening Primary Health Care

·               2009 Australia and New Zealand Society For Geriatric Medicine Lundbeck Fellowship

·               2007 Bristol-Myers Squibb Career Investigator Award for the best platform presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM) Annual Scientific Meeting

·               2005 Merck New Investigators Award- American Geriatric Society (AGS) 

·               2004 Pfizer Advanced Trainees Award (Finalist) at the National Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Annual Scientific Meeting (South Australian representative)

·               2003 Professor John Chalmers Prize South Australian RACP Annual Scientific Meeting- Best advance trainee platform presentation

·               2003 Emerging Australian Researcher’s Travelling Scholarship–Symposium on the Dynamic Processes in Aging 

·               2003-2005 International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, Australian Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs  

·               2002 RM Gibson Prize-Australian Annual Scientific Geriatric Meeting (Darwin) for the best advance trainee platform presentation  

Awards/Scholarships – Undergraduate- MBBS- 1991-1996

• ·  1996 Deans List- MBBS- University of Adelaide
• 1996 Academic Colours 1996 -St Mark’s College - awarded for academic excellence 
• ·   1991-1996 - Equity and Merit Scholarship Scheme- Awarded by AUSAID, Australia
• ·   1993-1996 - Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Memorial Award –TAR Foundation, Malaysia
• ·   1995- Cowan Grant -St. Mark’s College
• ·   1993-1994- William Donithorne Award- University of Adelaide
• ·   1994- Mc Connochie Scholarship in Medicine-University of Adelaide
• ·    1993-1994 Alfred Lendon Scholarship-St Mark’s College
• ·    1993 Sports Colours -St Mark’s College- excellence in golf
• ·    1991-1992 Sholto Douglas Scholarship-1991 & 1992 -St Mark’s College
• ·    1992- The Christopher and John Campbell Prize for Biochemistry-University of Adelaide

 

 

 

Research Funding

• 2012 Luscombe N, Visvanathan R, Chapman I. $457,000. Nutritional Frailty: A hidden problem that needs urgent attention.Meals on Wheels South Australia  
•  2011 Luscombe N, Visvanathan R, Chapman I. $209,000. Nutritional Frailty: A hidden problem that needs urgent attention. Balnaves Foundation Research Grant
• 2011 Visvanathan R. The Hospital Foundation Equipment Grant: Gaitrite Machine and Desktop Computer approximate $40,250
• 2010-2012 Chapman I, Visvanathan R, Naganathan V, Hunter P, Karnon J, Horowitz M, Lange K, Cameron I. The effects of testosterone and a nutritional supplement on hospital admissions in under-nourished, older people. NHMRC Project Grant - $ 1,018,438
• 2010-2012 Jones KL, Gentilcore D, Visvanathan R, Chapman I, Rayner C, Horowitz M. Grant. Gastric, small intestinal and cardiovascular mechanisms of postprandial hypotension. NHMRC Project Grant- $676,500 
• 2009-2013- TQEH Research Foundation Program Grant- The Health Observatory- promoting a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approach to health innovation- $1,300,000- Adams, R, Wilson D, Hill C, Visvanathan R, Ruffin R, Wittert G.
• 2008- Faculty Of Health Science, University of Adelaide, Early Career Researcher 25-OH Vitamin D and adiposity are associated with impaired physical function: What is the role of inflammation?- $10,000 - Visvanathan R, Chapman I.
•  2006-2008- Co-Investigator- ID 399124 NHMRC Primary Health Care Project Grant- Establishing the safety and effectiveness of a diagnostic therapeutic trial for asthma in community elderly- $395,500 - Adams R, Wilson D, Beltrame J and Visvanathan R
• 2007- Visvanathan R. University of Adelaide Divisional Scholarship $13,500= 1.5 x$9,000 (half PhD stipend to support a student)
• 2006- Visvanathan R- TQEH Research Foundation Equipment Grant (from the Bernie Lewis Foundation) $23,000 + 3 year PHD scholarship $54,000= $77,000
• 2006- Visvanathan R-Vincent Fairfax Fellowship- administered by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians-$50,000- Cytokine, adiposity, sarcopenia and ageing (CASA) – a pilot study 

 

 

Publications

Book Chapter

1.     2009- Penhall R & Visvanathan R. Nutritional Disorders and The Older Person in Practical Handbook For Geriatric Prescribing. Editor S.Jackson, London. Ed.  

Position Statement

1.     Visvanathan R. Australia and New Zealand Society For Geriatric Medicine Position Statement No. 6- Under-nutrition And The Older Person. Australasian Journal of Ageing 2009; 28(2): 99-105. [impact factor 0.671]  

Editorial

1.     Editorial:  Visvanathan R. Nutritional Frailty: Unrecognized Threatens Independence. Int J Evidence-Based Healthcare 2009; 7(4): 231-232.  

Invited Reviews

1.     Visvanathan R and Chapman I. Prevention of Sarcopenia. Maturitas 2010; 66(4): 383-388. [impact factor 2.093]  

2.     Visvanathan R. Under-nutrition and The Older Person. Nut & Diet 2009; 66(4): 238-242. [impact factor 0.724]  

3.     Visvanathan R and Chapman I. Under-nutrition and Anorexia In Older People in Gastroenterology In The Elderly-Ed. Talley & Tangalos. Gastroenterology Medical Clinics of North America 2009; 38(3): 393-409. [impact factor 2.558]  

Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Silakong T, Yu S, Visvanathan R. A dedicated teaching block for undergraduate geriatric medicine improves knowledge. Aus J Ageing 2010 (In Press).  

2. Davey, K. R., Cheung, J. C. K., Visvanathan, R. and Willison, J. W. A unique assessment of stress and stress factors on engineering academics in the research and teaching environment. In: Proc. 21^st Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (Past, Present, Future – The ''Keys' to Engineering Education Research and Practice) – AaeE 2010, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, December 5-8, paper 127.  

3. Kaiser MJ, Bauer JM, Ramsch C, Uter W, Guigoz Y, Cederholm T, Thomas DR, Anthony P, Charlton KE, Maggio M, Tsai AC, Vellas B, Sieber CC for the MNA-International Group. Frequency of malnutrition in older adults: a multinational international perspective using the Mini Nutritional Assessment. JAGS 2010; 58(9): 1734-1738. [impact factor 3.656]  

4. Kaiser MJ, Bauer JM, Ramsch C, Uter W, Guigoz Y, Cederholm T, Thomas DR, Anthony P, Charlton KE, Maggio M, Tsai AC, Grathwohl D, Vellas B, Sieber CC for the MNA-International Group. Validation of the Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form (MNA-SF): a practical tool for identification of nutritional status. J Nutr Health Aging. 2009 Nov;13(9):782-8. [impact factor 1.712]  

5. Tai K, Visvanathan R, Hammond A, Wishart J, Horowitz M, Chapman I. Fasting ghrelin is related to skeletal muscle mass in healthy adults. European Journal of Nutrition 2009; 48 (3): 176-183. [impact factor 2.866]  

6. Chapman I, Visvanathan R, Hammond AJ, Morley JE, Field JBF, Tai K, Belbrajdic D, Chen RYT, Horowitz M. The effects of testosterone and nutritional supplements, alone and combined, on hospital admissions in under-nourished community dwelling older people. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89 (3): 880-889. [impact factor 6.307]  

7. A.Zaiton, SG Sazlina, V Renuka. Shelter home for the elderly in Malaysia. BOLD 2008; 14(3): 25-32.  

8. SG Sazlina, R Krishnan, AS Shamsul, A Zaiton, R Visvanathan. Prevalence of falls among older people attending a primary care clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. J of Community Health 2008; 14(1): 11-16.  

9. Hammond AJ, Yu S, Esa K, Jabbour J, Wakefield L, Ryan P, Visvanathan R. Factors associated with persistent risk of depression in older people following discharge from an acute unit. Int Psychogeriatrics 2008; 20 (4): 738-751. [impact factor 2.506]  

10.         Visvanathan R, Zaiton A. Good oral health, adequate nutrient consumption and family support are associated with a reduced risk of being underweight amongst older Malaysian residents of publicly funded shelter home. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2006;15(3):400-5.  [impact factor 1.214]   

11.         Visvanathan R, Horowitz M, Chapman I. The hypotensive response to oral fat is comparable but slower compared with carbohydrate in older people. British Journal of Nutrition 2006; 95: 340-345.  [impact factor 3.446]  

12.         Visvanathan R and Chapman I. Health Campaigns Targeting Obesity Should Ensure That Older People Are Not Misinformed. BMJ Aug 2005; 331 (7514): 452.  [impact factor 13.660]  

13.         Visvanathan R, Chen R, Garcia M, et. al. The effects of drinks made from simple sugars on blood pressure in healthy older people. British Journal of Nutrition 2005; 95(3): 575-579.  [impact factor 3.446]  

14.         Gentilcore D, Visvanathan R, Russo A , Chaikomin R, Stevens J, Tonkin A, Horowitz M, Jones KL. Effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, on postprandial blood pressure and gastric emptying in healthy older subjects. American Journal of Physiology-Gastroenterology and Liver Physiology 2005 288(6):G1227-1232.  [impact factor 3.258]  

15.         Visvanathan R, Zaiton A, Sharina S, Yunus A. The nutritional status of 1081 elderly people residing in publicly funded shelter homes in peninsular Malaysia. European J Clin Nutr 2005; 59(3): 318-324. [Impact Factor 3.072] 

16.         Visvanathan R, Newbury J, Chapman I. Under-nutrition in Older People is Serious and Requires Management. Australian Family Physician October 2004; 33(10): 799-805.  [impact factor 0.570]  

17.         Visvanathan R, Chen R, Horowitz M, Chapman I. Effects of 50g carbohydrate drinks of differing glycemic effect on blood pressure in healthy older people.  British Journal of Nutrition August 2004; 92: 335-340.  [impact factor 3.446]  

18.         Visvanathan R. Dementia with Lewy Bodies. J Clin Neuroscience 2004; 11(6): 573-576. [impact factor 1.170]  

19. Visvanathan R, Penhall R, Chapman I. Nutritional Screening of Older People in a Sub-acute Care Facility in Australia and its Relation to Discharge Outcomes. Age and Ageing 2004; 33(3): 260-265.  [impact factor 3.131] 

20.         Visvanathan R. Malnutrition in older people: a serious growing global problem! J Postgrad Med 2003; 49(4):352-360.  [impact factor 1.389]  

21.         Visvanathan R, MacIntosh M, Callary M, Penhall R, Horowitz M, Chapman I. The Nutritional Status of 250 Older Australian Recipients of Domiciliary Care Services, and it’s Association with Outcomes at 12 months. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003; 51:1007-1011.  [impact factor 3.656]  

22.         Visvanathan R. PET imaging and Dementia. Medical Science Monitor 2003; 9(4): RA76-80.   [impact factor 1.543]  

23.         Visvanathan R and Visvanathan T. A puzzling elevation of troponin T. New Zealand Medical Journal 2002; 115 (1163): U 202-204.  

24.         Visvanathan R, Lecamwasam D, Chatterton B. ‘Bang and it was gone’: An acute onset dementia? Case Report and Clinical Practice Review 2002 June; 3(2): 71-73.  

25.         Visvanathan R. Uses of error: extensive workup. Lancet 2001; 358: 1094 [impact factor 30.758]  

26.         Mangas S, Visvanathan R, van Alphen M. Lead Poisoning from Homemade Wine: A Case Study. Environmental Health Perspectives 2001; 109(4): 433-435.   [impact factor 6.191]  

27. Visvanathan R. Is it truly dementia? Lancet 2001; 357:684.   [impact factor 30.758]

 

 

Entry last updated: Wednesday, 27 Jul 2011