Support & Wellbeing

Chief Medical Officer

Dr Nicki Murdock

Nicki joined Western Health in 2022 as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Nicki is a generalist at heart and has had a broad career, including sitting on Not for Profit boards delivering education and training, President of Paediatrics and Child Health at the RACP, as well as chairing Health Leaders Australia- a NFP in medical education.  As a result of her leadership roles, she won the 2017 Telstra Queensland Business Woman Award in Public Sector and Academia.  

In 2019 Nicki moved to the UK to work as CMO for three years in a Children’s Hospital with its own innovation hub, where she learnt about innovation as business as usual. 

Deputy Chief Medical Officers

Dr Abi Arul

Abi joined Western Health in 2022 as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) having previously worked at Kilmore District Hospital as the Acting Executive Director of Medical Services. Prior to that Abi worked at Monash Health & Northern Health, and undertook her Royal College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) Fellowship and a Masters in Health Management.

Abi has a keen interest in junior doctor wellbeing and is a member of the PMCV Workforce Committee and an accredited surveyor for prevocational training in Victoria. Abi is also an advocate for equity and inclusion in healthcare and the promotion of women in leadership.

A/Prof David Smallwood

David joined Western Health in 2021 as DCMO. He joined us from Austin Health, where he was Director of General Medicine for 3 years. David is a Respiratory and General Physician and completed a PhD on airway remodelling in long standing asthma, and is an Associate Professor in Medical Education at the University of Melbourne. David has a strong interest in quality and safety, and has chaired the Communicating for Safety Committee at 2 health services. David is completing his RACMA fellowship and Masters of Health Leadership and Management.

Medical Workforce Unit

The Western Health Medical Workforce Unit (MWU) supports junior medical staff with recruitment, on-boarding, rosters, leave and timesheets. Information about the MWU team is available on our Workforce page.

Medical Education Unit

The Western Health Medical Education Unit (MEU) supports pre-vocational doctors with education, training, orientation and career planning. Information about the MEU team is available on our Education page.