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Professor

Matthew Jose

Professor of Medicine

Medicine

Orcid identifier0000-0002-9589-0071
  • Professor of Medicine
    Medicine
  • +61 3 6226 4660 (Work)
  • Tasmanian School of Medicine, Medicine, 321 (Level 3) Hobart Clinical School, Hobart CBD Campuses, TAS

BIO

Highlights

Chronic kidney disease isn’t often thought of as a condition which affects young people.

However, research shows an alarming rate of chronic kidney disease being diagnosed in young Australians.

“We used to see kidney disease predominantly in people aged 50 and over,” Professor Matthew Jose said. “Now we’re seeing it in 20-year-olds.

“What we’re seeing around Australia, especially in northern Australia, is kidney disease at a younger and younger age.

“I was listening to elders from Thursday Island. They are sick of losing people every week to kidney disease.

“They don’t want a quick or political fix. They want something which addresses intergenerational change, which looks at nutrition and good public health measures, so their grandchildren can benefit.”

Professor Jose said the rise of kidney disease in young people could be attributed to a number of factors, including diabetes and high blood pressure. However, it varies from community to community.

“If maternal nutrition is poor, children can be born with smaller kidneys. The actual kidney function isn’t as good, so later in life, if they have infections or other health conditions, it can affect kidney functioning,” he said.

What drives Professor Jose’s research is helping to improve the lives of people with kidney disease, through education, care and support.

“My focus is about preventing kidney disease and its progression, it’s how we look after people better,” he said.

Professor Jose is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Tasmania’s College of Health and Medicine, and Adjunct Professor at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.

He has worked as Clinical Director of Medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Clinical Director of Renal Services in the Northern Territory and Head of the Renal Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

In 2014, he was appointed Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology for recognition of his international contribution to the discipline.

In 2023 he was appointed as Fellow of the International Society of Nephrology.

Professor Jose said Tasmania is among the areas in Australia which have high rates of kidney disease.

A large data linkage study being undertaken across the State has found Tasmania has the highest rate of kidney disease in Australia, in the non-Aboriginal population.

“Our mapping data now shows 14 per cent, or one in seven, Tasmanians have chronic kidney disease compared to the national average of one in 10. Even more striking is the fourfold variation in age-standardised prevalence between different communities, seen even in young people,” Professor Jose said.

A young adult clinic was established in 2016 for young Tasmanians with chronic kidney disease or a transplant.
The Young Adult Renal and Transplant Clinic was launched to help increase engagement with adolescents in their medical management, as well as provide allied health support.

“Previously, young Tasmanians had to travel to Melbourne. The Tasmanian clinic offers an opportunity for young people to share their experiences, and assist and support one another in a peer environment.”

Professor Jose said providing better care for patients with chronic kidney disease was being driven by a need to focus on other areas of managing the condition.

New research into the psychosocial determinants of the disease is being undertaken, looking at how depression, anxiety and social isolation can impact on people with kidney disease.

“There’s a big focus now on prevention, self-management and care for those affected by chronic kidney disease. It’s working towards more of a holistic approach to care,” he said.

Career

Professor Matthew Jose is the Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania, Adjunct Professor at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and a Renal Physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital. He is passionate about improving the lives of people with kidney disease, safe and effective clinical care, and teaching, mentoring and supporting health professionals.

Biography
Professor Jose's MBBS was achieved through the University of Adelaide and he qualified with FRACP as a renal physician in 1999. He was awarded his doctorate through Monash University in 2003 with a PhD thesis title 'Macrophages in acute renal allograft rejection'.

He then worked as a clinical nephrologist and physician-in-charge of transplantation at Monash Medical Centre 2003-04.

He then was appointed Director of Renal Services for the Northern Territory and between 2004-06 was responsible for the care of all people with kidney disease in the Northern Territory.

A change in career direction occurred in 2006 with a move to Hobart where he is became Head of the Renal Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH).

In 2011 he was appointed Professor and Chair of Medicine at UTAS and in 2012 he was appointed as Clinical Director of Medicine at the RHH and a member of the Tasmanian Lead Clinicians Group.

In 2013 he was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research as well as completing his Associate Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.

In 2014 he was appointed Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology for recognition of his international contribution to nephrology.

In 2023 he was appointed as Fellow of the International Society of Nephrology.

Career summary
Qualifications

MBBS, University of Adelaide, Australia, 1992
FRACP, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Australia, 1999
PhD, Monash University, Australia, 2003. Macrophages in acute renal allograft rejection
FASN, American Society of Nephrology, USA, 2014
AFRACMA, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, Australia, 2013

Memberships
Professional practice

Awarded Fellowships
-Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1999
-Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology 2014

- Fellow of the International Society of Nephrology 2023

Awarded Associate Fellowships
-Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators 2014-2024

International representation

-Australian Representative, Oceania Board of International Society of Nephrology (ISN)
-Australian Representative, Medical Education Committee of the Asia-Pacific Society of Nephrology (APSN)
-Australasia coordinator, Renal Disaster Relief Taskforce of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), 2009 - 2014
-ANZSN representative, 2nd International Chronic Kidney Disease summit, 2010
-Australian representative, International Society of Nephrology education tour of Indonesia, 2010
-ANZSN representative, Australian Creatinine Consensus Committee, 2010
-International Society of Nephrology representative to the Myanmar Health Research Congress, 2011

National representation

-Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), 2014 – 2020
-Chairperson, Dialysis Nephrology & Transplant Committee (DNT), the peak clinical body of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), March 2015 – 2017
-Chairperson, Peritoneal Dialysis Working group, Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN), 2013 – 2016
-Convener, Indigenous working group for Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), 2009 – 2014
-Honorary executive officer (2010 – 2012) for the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN)
-Council member (2008 – 2012) of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN)
-Member, Scientific Committee of the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN), 2011 – 2016
-Member, Steering Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), 2007 – 2020
-Member, National Examining Panel for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), 2011 – present
-Member, Scientific and Postgraduate Education Committee of ANZSN, 2007 – 2010

Administrative expertise
Professor Jose has been awarded the Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (AFRACMA), is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), has worked as Clinical Director of Medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital, State-wide Clinical Director of Renal Services in the Northern Territory and Head of the Renal Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

He has previous Board experience for two Not-for-Profit organisations (Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology and the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation), and has comleted the Australian Institute for Company Directors course.

SCHOOL AND PORTFOLIO

  • Tasmanian School of Medicine

FIELD OF RESEARCH