Rate My Professor Kristy Fakes

Dr. Kristy Fakes (née Forshaw), PhD, MPH, BMedSc(Path), serves as a Research Academic in the School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her academic qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy in Behavioural Science from the University of Newcastle awarded in 2019, a Master of Public Health from the University of Newcastle, and a Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathology) from Charles Sturt University. Before entering academia, she accumulated seven years of clinical experience as a medical scientist in pathology laboratories at public and private hospitals, specializing in the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions and health risk factors. Post-PhD, Fakes undertook three full-time equivalent years as a postdoctoral researcher within the School of Medicine and Public Health. She also managed a NHMRC Partnership-funded randomized controlled trial in partnership with the Stroke Foundation, aimed at improving stroke survivors' engagement with the EnableMe web-based portal and their health outcomes.

Fakes' research expertise lies in behavioural epidemiology (50%) and preventative health care (50%), with a focus on improving patient preparation for medical interventions, enhancing quality of care, and optimizing psychosocial outcomes for patients with chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Her doctoral work developed and validated the MiPrep patient-reported experience measure for assessing preparedness for medical interventions and conducted the first Australian study on the prevalence and correlates of pre-procedure anxiety across various imaging modalities and medical conditions. She has earned the 2021 School of Medicine and Public Health Award for Cross Discipline Collaboration and the 2019 Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour Best 2018 Publication Award. Notable publications include 'Patient Experiences of Receiving Stroke Discharge Information in Accordance With Preferences' (Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2025), 'Supporting international medical graduates–what can be done better? A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study' (PLoS One, 2025), 'Wearables Integrated Technology to support healthy behaviours in general practice patients with type 2 diabetes (WEAR-IT): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial' (BMJ Open, 2025), and contributions to Patient Education and Counseling on stroke discharge interventions and cardiac catheterization preparation (2023). Her research outputs number over 47, appearing in leading journals such as BMJ Open and Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology.