Dr Nicola Clayton receives award at Sydney Health Partners Annual Forum.

Clinical Specialist Speech Pathologist Dr Nicola Clayton's research work has been recognised at the inaugural Sydney Health Partners (SHP) awards.

Dr Clayton works at Concord Hospital in Sydney Local Health District and has more than 20 years' experience in the assessment and treatment of adult dysphagia - a complex swallowing disorder.

She is internationally recognised for her clinical expertise and research into swallowing and communication disorders in critical care, respiratory disease and severe burn injury.

At the Sydney Health Partners Annual Forum, she received an award for Research Collaboration Across the SHP Partnership.

"As a clinician-researcher, I'm passionate about my research and feel that collaboration with various disciplines across Sydney Health Partners is instrumental to enhancing not only the quality of research but also the successful and rapid translation into clinical care, so our patients can benefit and achieve better outcomes," she said.

The award was presented by Professor Mary O'Kane AC, the Board Chair of Sydney Health Partners.

Dr Clayton's research involves collaborators in Speech Pathology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Surgery and Nursing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she initiated and led several clinical research projects with partners across Sydney, Northern Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health Districts, investigating swallowing and voice impairment in COVID patients admitted to ICU.

"I'd like to congratulate Nicola on winning this very special award. It's well-deserved recognition and highlights the value of working together to further the translation of medical research into better health outcomes for our patients, their families and the community," Dr Anderson said.

The Forum considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical innovation in NSW, and the implications for enhancing research translation in our health services.

The District's Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson joined a panel discussion which explored what has been learned from COVID and how to harness the learnings to inform future strategy and priorities for health and medical research in NSW.

SHP is made up of the Sydney, Northern Sydney, and Western Sydney Local Health Districts; the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, The University of Sydney and affiliated medical research institutes.

Its aim is to translate research into better health outcomes for patients, their families and the community.