Background

Dr Kirsten Small is an Australian trained obstetrician and gynaecologist. Now retired from clinical practice, her goal is to improving maternity care through education and research. She was responsible for writing the first two courses enabling Australian midwives to obtain the authority to prescribe. Her ongoing research interests focus on intrapartum fetal monitoring, interprofessional power in maternity care, the social organisation of maternity care systems, and the de-implementation of low-value are practices.

Qualifications

• 2020 PhD, Griffith University: Social organisation of maternity professionals work relating to central fetal monitoring
• 2015 Grad Dip Hlth Res, Griffith University: Midwifery prescribing in Australia
• 2006 MReproMed, Uni NSW
• 1991 MBBS, Uni Qld
• 1989 BMedSc, Uni Qld: Vaginal birth and pelvic floor function

Appointments

• 2020 – ongoing Project Lead Enablers and barriers to the reform of maternity services, Transforming Maternity Care Collaborative
• 2020 – ongoing Principal Research Fellow, Griffith University
• 2018 – ongoing Facilitator, Qld Institutional Ethnography Network
• 2015 – ongoing Peer reviewer, Woman & Birth, Midwifery, Nurse Education in Practice, PLoS ONE, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medial Hypotheses, Women’s Studies International Forum
• 2001 – 2022 FRANZCOG

Positions

• 2023 – ongoing Senior Research Lead, Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group, Burnet Institute
• 2012 – 2023 Lecturer (B) School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University
• 2011 – 2012 Lecturer (B School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University
• 2001 – 2022 Clinical roles as obstetrician and gynaecologist, various locations
• 1992 – 2000 Medical officer, various locations in Qld

Awards

• 2016 Griffith University Excellent in Teaching, Health Group, Early Career category