PhD student Paraskevi (Evi) Morris recently spoke at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) 2021.
Evi Morris was selected as an Oral Prize Finalist within the Heart Failure Session, where she presented on one of her recent research projects 'Myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy elevates cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus'.
Through a retrospective analysis, this research found that independent of a diagnosed cardiomyopathy and systolic function, diabetic patients with myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy show a significantly elevated risk of a major adverse cardiovascular events thereby, requiring thorough long-term clinical follow-up and surveillance.
"I feel immensely honoured and proud to be given the opportunity to present to an audience of clinicians who I deeply respect and, one day, hope to follow in their footsteps," says Miss Morris.
Miss Morris is currently studying a PhD (Medicine and Health) at The University of Sydney under the primary supervision of Dr Sean Lal. Dr John O'Sullivan is also supervising Miss Morris and therefore, she is an active member of HRI's Cardiometabolic Disease Group. With an ever-growing passion for cardiology, heart failure and cardiac imaging, Miss Morris' ultimate ambition is to become a cardiologist, sub-specialising in heart failure, while continuing cardiovascular research within The University of Sydney and HRI aimed at improving health outcomes in cardiac patients.
"Clinicians and researchers can make a world of difference to the research knowledge-pool and ultimately, in helping and saving patients' lives."
Miss Morris was also previously selected as an Oral Prize Finalist at the 2020 CSANZ Heart Failure Session, and awarded the highly competitive Cardiovascular Precision Medicine Young Investigator's Rising Star Award in 2019.
CSANZ is the professional body for cardiologists and those working within the area of cardiology, including researchers, scientists, cardiovascular nurses, allied health professionals and other healthcare workers. The Society is the chief advocacy group for the profession and aims to facilitate training, professional development and improve medical practice to enhance the quality of care for patients with cardiovascular disease.
