Dr Susan Matthews is a Senior Lecturer (Balanced Academic) and Point-of-Care Testing Discipline Lead within the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Susan has expertise in Biochemistry and Physiology (BSc Honours (1^st Class, 1994), Endocrinology (PhD, 1998) and Clinical Laboratory Medicine (MAACB, 2007). She is the recipient of a Women and Leadership Australia Scholarship, an Australian Postgraduate Research Award and Co-operative Research Centre Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Susan has over 20 years of medical scientific expertise relevant to her translational research in chemical pathology, medical testing regulatory compliance (ISO15189), training and competency development, quality management of extensive point-of-care testing networks and leading policy change. In the past 5-years as Deputy Director/Co-Director of the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing, Susan has developed collaborative research (as CI) with the Commonwealth Government, the Northern Territory and Western Australian Departments of Health, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Kirby Institute, the Burnett Institute, Wesfarmers Health attracting 14 Category grants with researcher share of institutional award of $10.37M and an audited HERDC income from 2020 of $3.56M. Her publications have contributed to understanding age pathology parameters and utility of paediatric reference intervals; implementation and evaluation of national acute, chronic and infectious disease point-of-care diagnostic frameworks; enhanced linkage to novel care pathways and informed COVID-19 pandemic response. Susan has national/international recognition in the field of point-of-care testing as invited keynote/speaker, sessional Chair and an advisory member for: the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, Royal College of Australasia Quality Assurance Program and World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA). She is currently CI on a collaborative point-of-care testing National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) and a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Rapid Applied Research Translation Initiative with the Kirby Institute (UNSW), a global World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for sexually transmitted infections and executive special interest group for the World Organization of Family Doctors WONCA).

In education, Susan completed the Flinders Foundations of Teaching and brings over 11 years’ experience in the practice of teaching, topic coordination and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement programs at Flinders University, Deakin University, James Cook University, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University. Most recently, she led an evaluative research project on the impact of online peer feedback to the scholarship of learning and teaching. Her teaching philosophy is student-focussed: ‘to utilise scientific knowledge, skills, and leadership to foster clinical education and scientific competency for the development of high-quality, work-ready graduates’. She is currently the topic coordinator for a specialist point-of-care testing unit (MDSC3100) and delivers invited lectures to the Doctor of Medicine (MMED9150) at Flinders University. Susan has recruited and mentored several Flinders University graduates to the International Centre for Point-of-Care testing.Susan was appointed as the Point-of-Care Discipline Lead in 2020, reporting to the Head of Public Health Discipline within the College of Medicine and Public Health. She also serves on the College of Medicine and Public Health Reconciliation Plan (RAP) Committee and has contributed to the Flinders University Rural and Remote SA & NT Primary Healthcare Manual Team, College Research Forums, Flinders University Open Days, College Retreats and promoted Flinders University in partnership with the South Australian Government in local media events.

Current research interest include: COVID-19 point-of-care testing and public health management, acute, chronic and infectious point-of-care testing, rural and remote health, paediatric reference intervals

Past research interests include: insulin-like growth factors