Innowell appoints Dr Melanie Turner as Chief Clinical Officer
Innowell has announced the appointment of Dr. Melanie Turner as its new Chief Clinical Officer.
Dr. Turner, a Clinical Associate Professor and child-adolescent psychiatrist, will lead the company's clinical strategy and chair its Clinical Advisory Council. She brings extensive experience in psychiatry, medical administration, and education to this role.
Syed Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Innowell, expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Turner's appointment, stating, "Mel adds breadth and depth of knowledge to our team, and we are excited to have someone of her calibre helping us fulfil our mission to unlock and improve mental healthcare outcomes for everyone." He emphasized the importance of having a Chief Clinical Officer who can provide clinical expertise and drive thought leadership in the mental health community both in Australia and globally.
Dr. Turner commented on the potential impact of her new role, saying, "Innowell is an opportunity to do something new and genuinely impactful when it comes to the provision of mental health care, not just in Australia but around the world." She highlighted the industry's longstanding challenges with access and resource provision, noting that Innowell's platform seeks to address these issues and enhance communication between healthcare practitioners.
Dr. Turner holds academic qualifications in Applied Science and Medicine, along with a PhD in Perinatal Psychiatry from the University of Adelaide. Her postgraduate studies include Health Management and Medical Administration.
In addition to her role at Innowell, Dr. Turner serves as Deputy Chief Psychiatrist at the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist of South Australia. She holds several other positions, such as Board Member of the Medical Board of South Australia, Elected Board Director of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Board Director at Mental Health Australia, and Presiding Member of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board in South Australia.
Dr. Turner is also actively involved in projects concerning healthcare pathways for individuals with autism and medical education accreditation. She contributes to academic literature through various publications in peer-reviewed journals and is involved in education, teaching medical students and trainee psychiatrists at the University of Adelaide. Her contributions to research have been recognised with awards from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and she has also received a Churchill Fellowship for her report on non-emergency department interventions for mental health crises.