A CLINICAL RESEARCH CAREER WORKING SPONSOR-SIDE, CRO-SIDE TO SITE-SIDE AT PARATUS CLINICAL
With
Megan Morrison,
Chief Executive Officer
Paratus Clinical
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | December 2025
In July 2025, Paratus Clinical, a Australian provider of dedicated clinical trial services, announced the appointment of Megan Morrison as its new Chief Executive Officer, at the same time as a significant milestone as the company celebrating over a decade of impact in the clinical research space. Paratus now operates a network of five purpose-built, research-only clinics along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Megan Morrison as the Chief Executive Officer of Paratus Clinical, brings more than 24 years of experience in the clinical research industry. She has held senior leadership roles across sponsor organisations, CROs and clinical sites, giving her a uniquely comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities across the drug development ecosystem.
With a background in pharmacology and a Master of Business Administration, Megan combines scientific expertise with commercial and operational acumen. She is committed to advancing Australia’s role in global clinical research by expanding access to innovative studies, strengthening partnerships with sponsors, and ensuring that high-quality outcomes are delivered for both patients and partners.
In this interview with Australian Health Journal she talks about her career journey, current trends in the industry as well as recent projects. Megan also shares her career advice on being curious, in a frequently changing environment such as clinical research, for the benefit of sponsors getting new therapies to market.
Source: Adapted from Paratus Clinical media releases and website
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Australasian College of Paramedicine makes case for multi-disciplinary care
Despite being seen primarily as emergency responders, paramedics have long been providing care in the primary care space. As such, their increased involvement in primary and urgent care is a natural progression that can lead to improved health outcomes for communities. Urgent care clinics, which treat non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, have been a recent introduction. However, when these clinics were initially proposed, paramedics were left out of the opportunity, despite being experts in urgent, acute, unplanned, and unscheduled care. They work in these types of situations every day in the ambulance service and should be utilised in these clinics to improve patient outcomes. Working as part of multidisciplinary teams with doctors and nurses can further enhance the outcomes for local communities.
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Health equity
For 30 years the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has worked to help bridge the gap that often exists between available resources and actual needs through the donation of paediatric medical equipment. Humpty, like many other charitable initiatives, began with a humble goal. Its Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Francis OAM, together with Patron Ray Martin AM, set out to raise some money to paint the walls of the Children’s Ward at Royal North Shore Hospital.
To date more than 440 hospitals and health services have shared in over $85 million of essential and lifesaving medical equipment for sick and injured paediatric patients.
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Continuity of Care under COVID-19
Series 3, Episode 1
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Healthcare system has handled the public health crisis by monitoring and responding to challenges in supply chains, testing & tracing of new infections and stock piling of essential equipment.
The public has largely responded by practising social distancing, understanding how hand hygiene can spread contagion and recently installing the COVIDSafe mobile application. Public health messaging has been largely effective and literacy improve, to combat the dangers of misinformation.
To open up access to medical advice during the pandemic, in March the Australian government issued MBS item codes for telehealth consultations, for advanced practice nurses as well as GPs and other specialists.
According to AMA President Dr Tony Bartone, as of mid-May 2020, around 10 million Medicare-funded telehealth services have been provided, either over the phone or via video, a significant majority of which have been provided by GPs and other specialists since the Medicare telehealth items were introduced in March.
However in recent months, the health system has mounting concerns on:
- a reduction in general practice visits for testing, investigation or immunisation
- lower rates of elective procedures resuming since being halted
- reduction in laboratory testing
- reduction in treatments and diagnosis of chronic and acute conditions
- access to, and continuing to take medications
Those with pre-existing conditions have been urged to keep appointments and routine treatments to maintain their health.
Industry has taken action such as the newly formed Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC). The 15 health organisations forming CCC are an Australian first national communication collaboration of Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations coming together to stress the importance for people to continue monitoring their health and maintaining their regular care.
This Australian Health Journal episode on the continuity of care was produced with commentary from the following health industry associations and organisations: APNA – Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, RACGP, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), West Cessnock Medical Practice, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Medicines Australia
