RETAINING A CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE IN MACRO LEVEL CHANGES
With
Dr Shona Sundaraj,
Group Medical Director
Medibank
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | August 2026
Dr Shona Sundaraj BAppSc (Phty), MBBS, FRACGP, MBA is Group Medical Director at Medibank, bringing over two decades of clinical and systems experience to strategy, research and stakeholder engagement. She leads the Medibank Better Health Research Hub and Chairs the Health Research Governance Committee, guiding stakeholder engagement, competitive grant rounds and partnerships with universities, translational research centres and peak bodies to support evidence based improvement in care.
Shona combines frontline clinical insight with corporate experience across health, insurance and primary care. Shona was awarded an Imperial Excellence Scholarship and completed her MBA through Imperial College Business School. She has completed executive leadership study at Harvard University. Her previous roles include senior medical positions at Zurich Financial Services and TAL, where she contributed to product innovation, risk mitigation and preventative health initiatives. She has led primary care operations through COVID19 period in primary care.
Her work is shaped by a lifelong commitment to healthy ageing as a life course priority, and to translating evidence into accessible, person-centred models of care. She has chaired both Sustainability and Research Governance groups, driven AI-enabled prevention pilots, supported medical education and worked in community volunteer clinics for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.
A Sydney native, Shona is a mother of two and enjoys running and walking her two dogs along the harbour and beaches. Her focus in her roles as Senior Executive leader at Medibank, non-executive director and invited speaker is the practical impact that collaboration can have on the health of Australia.
Source: Supplied
Media access credit: Women’s Health MedTech Summit Australia 2026 | Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
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ICTD: Clinical trials in regional, rural and remote Australia
To mark International Clinical Trials Day 2026, Australian Health Journal commences a 4 part special series leaving up to 20th May. Through conversations with leading researchers, clinicians and trial organisations, the series highlights achievements in the year that was for clinical trials. The first segment is an example of how in-person clinical trial access has improved for regional, rural and remote communities.
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Updated handbook on chronic kidney disease management in primary care
Kidney Health Australia’s latest kidney disease guide for primary care practitioners is expected to be pivotal in slowing down the rates of kidney failure, which have doubled in the past 20 years and if left unchecked will grow by a further 42% by 2030, according to the health charity.
With specific reference to new kidney treatments and culturally safe kidney care for First Nations Australians, the 5th edition of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care handbook, known as the ‘kidney bible’, is a significant step-up in enabling earlier diagnosis of kidney disease for GPs and other front-line healthcare professionals.
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Addressing Wound Management
The cost of chronic wounds in Australia is estimated to be $3 Billion per year, impacting 420,000 Australians. Not only is this a national economic concern, but more importantly, is the suffering the person may be going through.
Australian Health Journal met with Hayley Ryan, Board Director and Chair at Wounds Australia and Director at WoundRescue to hear her work in chronic wound management, palliative wounds and pressure injury prevention to comfort those living with a wound.
