ESSA congratulates Dr Meegan Walker, winner of 2019 ESSA Medal

Each year, the prestigious ESSA Medal is awarded annually by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) to the most outstanding PhD thesis, approved for graduation in the field of exercise and sports science.

“The awarding of the ESSA Medal allows us to recognise those students who are contributing to the exercise and sports science industry through their research and dedication,” explains ESSA Chief Executive Officer, Anita Hobson-Powell.

For 2019, the ESSA Medal received a total of nine nominations of the highest quality from dedicated project supervisors from various universities around Australia. The assessing panel commented on the difficulty when identifying a clear winner for the overall decision.

Today, ESSA is pleased to congratulate Dr Meegan Walker, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, for winning the 2019 ESSA Medal for her PhD thesis, ‘Blood flow during passive leg movement: impact of vascular disease and nitrate supplements’.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition from ESSA. I have been an ESSA member and an AEP for many years and I deeply respect the work of the ESSA Board and the National Office. Receiving the 2019 ESSA Medal is rewarding and motivating. I feel encouraged to continue to do research that informs our clinical practice,” says Dr Meegan Walker.

“I’m proud of my PhD thesis and the suite of studies presented in it. It was a huge investment of my energy and time, and I don’t feel like any part of it came easily; it required creative problem solving and persistence. I am fortunate to have had wonderful research participants who willingly volunteered their time, their blood, and samples of muscle tissue. I also had astute guidance from my supervisor, and I had the patient and unwavering support of my family. Now that my thesis is complete, I am gratified by the impact that my research is having on the health of ageing Australians.

The broad aim of Walker’s thesis was to explore strategies to promote healthy vascular ageing.

“My research helps to characterise the impact of oxidative stress on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. I have identified factors that impair vessel function and promote atherosclerosis, as in peripheral arterial disease, but importantly, I have identified interventions that can enhance the health of blood vessels in older adults.”

“We all know that regular exercise and nutritious food are important to cardiovascular health and my work demonstrates the mechanisms, linking the physiological steps between lifestyle choices and healthy blood vessels,” adds Dr Walker.

Walker’s thesis received applause from the assessing panel, with feedback such as:

“This is a very comprehensive thesis, incorporating a series of studies ranging from exploration of mechanisms which provide noteworthy and novel insights into the pathophysiology of peripheral artery disease.”

“The data was well and accurately analysed, and the interpretation of the data excellent. The conclusions offered were clear and the clinical implications well defined without exaggeration or over interpreted.”

“The candidate has a flair for connecting the dots and producing a cohesive analysis of the measurements. It is clear from the study outcomes, and conclusions, that the candidate has a clear grasp of the weight of her findings and provides real-world value by translating these into meaningful recommendations.”

“The research is commendable given the inclusion of difficult to achieve populations; clinical patients and elderly healthy individuals.”

Dr Meegan Walker will be presented with her award and prize money at the Research to Practice 2020 Conference, being held in Perth in April.

Nominations for the 2020 ESSA Medal will open late-2020, and project supervisors will be invited to nominate their PhD students as candidates from September 2020.