Reem Zeki
The Faculty of Health provides expert academics who can support a career in the research field.
Key research areas/interests: Perinatal research, chronic diseases, epidemiology and statistics
Principal Supervisor: Professor Elizabeth Sullivan
Summary of research project:
‘Diabetes in Pregnancy: birthing practice and perinatal outcomes’
Diabetes during pregnancy (pre-existing and gestational) is a major public health problem. It’s associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Diabetes during pregnancy is not an absolute indication for caesarean section, however, the rate of caesarean section is almost double in women with diabetes during pregnancy than in the general population. The aim of the study is to investigate maternal and infant outcomes for women with diabetes during pregnancy who gave birth in NSW by onset of labour and method of birth.
Why did you decide to embark on your research degree at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
The Faculty of Health provides highly expert academics and researchers who will assist me through my PhD journey and offer their support to build my future in the research field. In addition, it provides resources needed to support PhD students to pursue their research.
What contribution to knowledge are you planning to make with your research project
This study is the first population based study in NSW investigating maternal and infant outcomes for women with diabetes during pregnancy by onset of labour and method of birth. It will provide evidence-based data to help inform timing, onset and method of birth for women with diabetes. It will determine the association of onset of labour and method of birth with maternal and infant outcomes for women giving birth in NSW. It will contribute to the national and international literature on the association between the choice of method of birth and its effect on perinatal outcome.
Who will benefit from your research? How?
The research will provide information for women, maternity clinicians, policy makers and governments to assist health service planning and joint decision making around method of birth for women with diabetes during pregnancy.
How did you go about selecting your supervisor?
Professor Sullivan is a public health physician, she has expertise in medical epidemiology specialising in the fields of perinatal, maternal, and pregnancy outcomes. She has a long experience of working at a national and international level as a perinatal and reproductive epidemiologist. She is nationally- and internationally recognised for her innovative program of population health and health services research that focuses on vulnerable reproductive populations including women with chronic illness.
What has been the most valuable part of your research student experience at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
The most valuable part of my research experience at the Faculty of Health at UTS are the experiences and skills that I have gained from the highly expert supervisors and other multidisciplinary academics and researchers in the public health area. This was made possible by meetings organised for research students within the Faculty of Health and the interaction with other research students through Research Student Forum that is held twice per year at the Faculty of Health.
What advice would you give to future research students thinking about starting a higher degree in research at the Faculty of Health?
I advise future research students at the Faculty of Health to use the resources, facilities and services that the Faculty of Health provides, such as consultations with expert librarians and the workshops designed for research students.
