Prof John Bushnell

PhD, PG Dip Clin Psych  FNZCCPsych

John Bushnell is the Director of the University of Wollongong's new Graduate School of Medicine, and Deputy Dean of the School. After growing up in rural New Zealand's Deep South, he lived in Christchurch then Wellington.  He worked for many years for the University of Otago where he held a number of positions, including Associate Dean for Medical Education, and Chair of the Faculty Curriculum Committee which has with overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the medical degree curriculum. He was also an Associate Professor in Psychological Medicine at the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He moved to Australia in 2006 to lead the team that has developed and implemented a highly successful new MBBS degree that focuses on addressing the medical workforce needs of regional, rural and remote Australia.

Professor Bushnell has held joint clinical appointments to academic Liaison Psychiatry units based in the medical and surgical wards of general hospitals for 25 years in conjunction with various university based research and teaching roles.

His main research interests are in the interface between medicine and psychology, and on refining our understanding of the most effective ways of helping health professionals learn their trade. Before leaving New Zealand, he was director of the MaGPIe Research Group, a collaboration between colleagues in General Practice, Public Health, and Psychological Medicine exploring mental health issues in primary care.

Professor Bushnell has served on many national health-related boards and advisory groups, including the New Zealand National Board of Health, and the NZ College of Clinical Psychologists in several roles including Foundation Chair of its Board of Education, President, and Editor of "The New Zealand Clinical Psychologist". He also worked on many projects with NZ's Ministry of Health, chairing the production of guidelines for evidence-based treatment of mental disorders in primary care. He was a member of the NZ Psychologists Board at the time on implementation of the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act (2003), taking particular responsibility for developing processes for accreditation of university courses leading to registration of graduates as psychologists.

John's less academic interests include wine, photography and cycling.