A/Prof Zaf Smith ~ Associate Professor, Medical Education

Dr. Zafar Smith is an Emergency Medicine Specialist residing in Townsville, Australia with his wife and four children. Zafar is passionate about indigenous health and international emergency medicine in the Pacific Islands. His Samoan and Kiwi heritage with an upbringing in Papua New Guinea inspire him to continually work towards bridging the health inequality gap that exists between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Zafar holds an Emergency Medicine Fellowship degree (FACEM), a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB), Master of Public Health & Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM) and a Diploma in Paediatrics (DCH). He is an enthusiastic medical educator and an Associate Professor at the James Cook University School of Medicine, Queensland, Australia.

Teaching

• MD3011: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 1 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• MD3012: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 2 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)

Interests

Professional

• Bridging the gap in health inequalities for Indigenous peoples.
• Delivery of high quality Emergency Medicine Care for people in Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department

Research

• Delivery of emergency care in a culturally appropriate manner for First Nations People in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Teaching

• Emergency medicine for medical students using role play, case narratives and gamification for learning.

Experience

• 2024 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2023 to present - Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine, Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department (Townsville, Australia)
• 2014 to present - Instructor for Emergency Management of Severe Trauma Course, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2013 to present - International Instructor for Advanced Paediatric Life Support Course, Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) International (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2013 to present - Registered Emergency Medicine Specialist, Medical Board of Papua New Guinea. (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea)
• 2017 to 2023 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2017 to 2022 - Emergency Medicine Specialist, Townsville University Hospital (Townsville, Australia)
• 2017 to 2020 - Global Emergency Care Committee Member (GECCo), Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2018 to 2019 - Doctor Volunteer with YWAM Medial Ships Papua New Guinea, YWAM Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea)
• 2018 to 2019 - Subsection editor and manuscript reviewer for the Emergency Medicine Australasia (EMA) Journal, International EM section, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2013 to 2019 - Examiner and Fellowship Workshop Lecturer for the Master of Emergency Medicine Program, University of Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea)
• 2013 to 2017 - Indigenous Health Subcommittee Member, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2015 to 2016 - Queensland State Faculty Board Member - Trainee Representative, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2010 to 2016 - Emergency Medicine Registrar, Australian College for Emergency Medicine (Queensland, Australia)
• 2004 to 2010 - Registered Medical Practitioner, Medical Council of New Zealand, Annual Practicing Certificate (Wellington, New Zealand)

Awards

• 2022 - Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award 2022 - “In recognition of commitment to, enthusiasm and passion for, learning and teaching”. Professor Richard Murray, Dean of College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University.
• 2022 - National Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation Award - “For Transforming medical student learning & transition to clinical years"
• 2021 - $10,000 Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 2021 - James Cook University.
• 2018 - Australian National Award for Teaching Excellence - Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) 2018.
• 2018 - North West Hospital and Health Service Staff Awards Individual, Community Engagement Award 2018 for “Riverbed Project Mount Isa”.
• 2011 - Prize for Top Student in Introductory Epidemiology 2011 - James Cook University, Townsville. Prize offered by the Australasian Epidemiological Association for the student who achieves the highest score in an introductory epidemiology subject.
• 2003 to 2004 - $20,000 Pacific Health Workforce Award 2003 and 2004 - Ministry of Health of New Zealand For “Pacific students who have shown academic excellence and a commitment to Pacific Island health”.

Fellowships

• 2016 - Fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

Memberships

• 2023 - Senior Staff Specialist for Emergency Medicine, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Australia
• 2013 - Registered Emergency Medicine Specialist with the Medical Board of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG.
• 2010 - Registered Specialist in Emergency Medicine with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• 2004 to 2010 - Registered Medical Practitioner with the Medical Council of New Zealand

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Other research outputs

• Smith Z (2015) A Crucial Truth. In: Emergency: Real Stories from Australia's Emergency Department Doctors. Penguin Random House, pp. 240-246
• Smith Z (2014) Papua New Guinea. EPi, 12. pp. 8-9