Rate My Professor Zarrin Allam Whelan

Dr Zarrin Allam-Whelan is a Senior Lecturer at Curtin Medical School within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University. She operates from an off-campus location as part of the Office of the Provost. Her career in medical education and clinical practice spans key roles in Western Australia's healthcare system. Previously, as a Senior Registrar in general medicine at a Western Australian hospital, she managed consultant cover, supervised junior doctors, oversaw the education roster, handled non-clinical duties, and chaired the WA trainee committee for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. In 2021, she assumed the role of Director of Clinical Teaching at Royal Perth Hospital alongside her clinical responsibilities, serving on the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia Accreditation and Standards Committee and contributing to the accreditation of additional intern positions for Curtin Medical School's inaugural graduating cohort.

Dr Allam-Whelan's teaching excellence is evident in her bedside instruction during morning rounds, tailored to patient cases and physical exams for maximum engagement. She has introduced sub-specialty teaching by external doctors for junior medical officers and delivers sessions at intern and resident medical officer orientations while coordinating the state-wide RMO Step Up Leadership program. Key initiatives include founding SPHERE (Supporting Parenthood in Healthcare - Entitlements, Resources and Education), advocating for improved mothers’ room access at Royal Perth Hospital, and authoring a parental leave resource pack. Her efforts in mentoring, innovation, junior doctor wellbeing, and time generosity earned her Western Australia's 2021 Clinical Educator of the Year award and the national 2021 CPMEC Clinical Educator of the Year honor, presented at the 25th ANZPMEF conference. She has also represented the Royal Australasian College of Physicians on the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia.