Our people

Professor Sandy Middleton

Director, Nursing Research Institute

Areas of expertise: nursing research, stroke, implementation science research

ORCID ID:  0000-0002-7201-4394

Phone: +61 2 8382 3790

Email: nriadmin@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU North Sydney Campus

Sandy Middleton is a Professor of Nursing and Director of the Nursing Research Institute. Professor Middleton has a particular interest in stroke and implementation research and has been successful in obtaining grants totalling over $96.8 million. She was the lead investigator on the landmark NHMRC-funded QASC cluster trial demonstrating decreased death and dependency following implementation of nurse-initiated protocols to manage fever, hyperglycaemia and swallowing post-stroke, winning multiple national and international awards including ACU’s Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award, Excellence in Research and Research Partnerships in 2019. These protocols are currently being translated into 64 hospitals in 17 European countries. She has published in high impact journals including The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine. Professor Middleton is a member of the Boards of Directors for the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) chairing the ACI-CEC Research and Education Committee. She is Director of the Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) Implementation Science platform; Director of the Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy; and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry.

Select publications

• Middleton S, Dale S, McElduff B, Coughlan K, McInnes E, Mikulik R, Fischer T, van der Merwe J, Cadilac DA, E’Este C, Levi C, Grimshaw J, Grecu A, Quinn C, Cheung N, Koláčná T, Medukhanova S, Sanjuan E, Salselas S, Messchendor G, Cassier-Woidasky AK, Skrzypec-Czerko M, Slavat-Plana M, Urso A, Pfeilschifter W. Translation of nurse-initiated protocols to manage fever, hyperglycaemia and swallowing following stroke across Europe (QASC Europe): A pre-test/post-test implementation study. European Stroke Journal. 2022;0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/23969873221126027

• Ramsden V, Middleton S, McInnes E, Babl FE, Tavender E. Review Article: A primer for clinical researchers in the Emergency Department: Part XII. Sustainability of improvements in care: An Introduction. Emergency Medicine Australasia. 2022; 34: 670-674. https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.14052

• Purvis T, Middleton S, Alexandrov A, Kilkenny M, Coote S, Kuhle S, Cadilhac DA. Exploring barriers to stroke coordinator roles in Australia: A national survey. 2022; 29(4): 423-429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2021.12.007

• Rickard C, Kennedy K, Middleton S, Whitehead L, Keogh S, Finn J, Gray R, Neville S, Homer C, Gilkinson A, Baird K, Sharplin G, Eckert M. Harnessing nursing and midwifery workforce to boost Australia’s clinical research impact. Medical Journal of Australia. In press. Published online 6 November 2022. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51758

• Fish JA, Rickard CM, Gray R, Middleton S, Homer C, Keogh S, Leslie G, Nemeh F, Neville S, Sharplin G, Whitehead L, Yates P, Eckert M. Nurse- and midwife-led trials in Australia and New Zealand: Scoping review protocol. E-pub ahead of print 27 May 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.05.005

• Middleton S, Dale S, Cheung W, Cadilhac D, Grimshaw J, Levi C, McInnes E, Considine J, McElduff P, Gerraty R, Craig L, Schadewaldt V, Fitzgerald M, Quinn C, Cadigan G, Denisenko S, Longworth M, Ward J, D’Este C. Nurse-initiated acute stroke care in Emergency Departments: Results from the T3 implementation cluster randomised controlled trial. 2019; 50: 1346-1355. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.020701

• Middleton S, McElduff P, Ward J, Grimshaw J, Dale S, D’Este C, Drury P, Griffiths R, Cheung NW, Quinn C, Evans M, Cadilhac D, Levi C. Implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols to manage fever, hyperglycaemia and swallowing dysfunction in acute stroke improves 90-day outcomes: QASC, a cluster randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2011; 378(9804): 1699-1706.

Published online October 12: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61485-2

***** Commentary also published in The Lancet ***** See:
Wolfe CDA and Rudd AG. Improvement of Care in Acute Stroke Units. The Lancet 2011; 378 (9804): 1679. Published online 12 October 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61545-6
***** Published in Faculty 1000 (F1000) Library as a result of post-publication peer review which places this work in the library of the top 2% of published articles in biology and medicine available at http://f1000.com/13399002. *****

Professor Sandy Middleton Full Publication List

Accolades and awards

• Nov 2022 - Finalist, Engagement Australia 2022 Excellence Awards - Award for Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact for the Quality in Acute Stroke Care (QASC) Program.
• Nov 2021 - World Stroke Academy - #WomenInStroke initiative for outstanding work and achievements in the field of stroke.
• July 2020 - Winner, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Quality and Innovation Awards for Health Research and Innovation category (Category 9). Implementation of a chest Injury Care Bundle Prevents Adverse Events Project. 30 July 2020.
• Oct 2019 - Winner, Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award, Excellence in Research and Research Partnerships for the Quality in Acute Stroke Care (QASC) Program. 16 October 2019.
• Oct 2019 - Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. 10 October 2019.
• August 2019 – Finalist, Excellence in Research and Research Partnerships category, Vice-Chancellor's Staff Excellence Awards.
• April 2019 - Finalist, Federal Health Minister’s inaugural Award for Nursing Trailblazers.
• November 2018 - Winner, Health Collaboration Awards: Service Delivery Category for The Angels Initiative (QASC Europe). European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), 8th November 2018.
• November 2018 - Honoree, St Vincent’s Clinic Medal for Outstanding Contribution to St Vincent’s Clinic. Sydney, Australia, 21st November 2018.
• October 2017- Fellow, American Academy of Nursing. Academy’s 2017 Transforming Health, Driving Policy Conference. Washington DC, 5th – 7th October 2017.
• July 2017 - Honoree, 2017 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. 28th International Nursing Research Congress. Dublin, Ireland, 27th-31st July 2017.
• Nov 2014 - Winner, 2014 NSW Premier's Public-Sector Award for Improving Performance and Accountability. Quality in Acute Stroke Care Implementation Project.
• Oct 2014 - Finalist, NSW Health Awards 2014, Translational Research. Quality in Acute Stroke Care Implementation Project.
• Sept 2014 - Winner, NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2014. Excellence in Innovation Research.
• World Stroke Academy - #WomenInStroke initiative for outstanding work and achievements in the field of stroke.

Appointments and affiliations

• Member, Australian College of Nursing Emerging Nurse Research Leadership Program – Expert Advisory Group, June 2022 to present.
• Member, RES-Q Scientific Committee, May 2021 to present.
• Member, St Vincent’s Health Australia Board Research and Education Committee (Research component only), September 2020 to present.
• Member, Australian Stroke Alliance Strategic Advisory Council, August 2020 to present.
• Member, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellowship Selection Committee, Nov 2019 to present.
• Member, Living Evidence Business Case Development Steering Committee, August 2019 to present.
• Member, Quality Stroke Service Awards Subcommittee, 2019 to present.
• Chair, Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy, 2018 to present.
• Director, Implementation Science Platform for Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE), NHMRC accredited Advanced Health Research Translation Centre, 2018 to present.
• Member, Translational Research Fellowship Committee for Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE), NHMRC accredited Advanced Health Research Translation Centre, 2018 to present.
• Member, Clinical Trials Conduct: Clinician, Public and Patient Involvement Steering Committee. Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE), NHMRC accredited Advanced Health Research Translation Centre, 2018 to present
• Member, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation Stroke Service NSW Executive Committee, July 2018 to present.
• Chair, NSW Health Stroke Ambulance Research Sub-committee, 2018 to present.
• Member, European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC), 2018 Allied Health (and Nursing) Sub-committee.
• Member, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Clinical Researcher Committee (representing Australian College of Nursing), 2021 to present.
• Member, Stroke Foundation Living Guidelines Steering Committee, July 2018 to present
• Member, Stroke Foundation, Living Guidelines Stroke Development Working Group, 2018 to present.
• Co-Chair, Stroke Foundation, Living Guidelines Stroke Development Nursing Sub-committee Working Group, 2018 to present.
• Member, Executive Committee for the TEXAIS trial, 2017 to present.
• Member, St Vincent’s Health Sydney Local Health District, Nursing Advisory Council, October 2015 to present.
• Member, Agency for Clinical Innovation Board of Directors, March 2014 to March 2024.
• Member, Clinical Excellence Commission Board of Directors, March 2014 to March 2024.
• Member, Australian Stroke Coalition Executive Committee, 2013 to present.
• Member, Agency for Clinical Innovation Research and Education Committee, November 2011 to present. Chair, March 2022 to present
• Member, Clinical Excellence Commission Research Committee, November 2011 to present.
• Member, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney Research Advisory Council, September 2011 to present.
• Chair, Australian Clinical Stroke Registry Steering Committee, October 2008 to present.
• Member, ACU University Consultative Committee, 2021 to present.
• Member, ACU Excellence in Research Australia Impact and Engagement Committee, 2017 to present.
• Member, Nursing Research Institute Steering Committee, March 2008 to present.
• Member, Nursing Research Institute, Management Committee, 2010 to present.
• Member, Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA), 2019 to present.
• Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2017 to present.
• Fellow, European Stroke Organisation, 2017 to present; Member, 2013 – 2017.
• Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science, 2019 to present.
• Fellow, Australian College of Nursing, 2012 to present.
• Member, American Heart Association, 2012 to present.
• Member, Stroke Society of Australasia, 2010 to present.
• Member, Health Services Research Association, 2008 to present.
• Member, Australasian Association for Quality in Health Care, Aug 2004 to present.
• Member, Sigma Theta Tau International, Xi Omicron Chapter, 2003 to present.
• Member, International Society for Quality in Health Care, 2003 to present.

Editorial roles

• International Editorial Board and Section Editor for ‘Stroke Clinician’. Interventional Neurology Journal, August 2017 to present.
• International Editorial Board. Journal of Advanced Nursing, October 2012 to present.