Saving lives, shaping systems: The Monash Business School alum who transformed childhood kidney care

14 May 2026

From bedside care to system-wide reform, Associate Professor Catherine Quinlan brought genomic medicine out of research labs and into routine paediatric care.

In her first week as a junior doctor, Associate Professor Catherine Quinlan helped care for a newborn starting dialysis.

The baby’s survival, made possible by skill, teamwork and determination, felt almost miraculous.

“It did not take long for me to realise that this was where I belonged,” she said.

“Paediatrics is serious work, but it is also deeply human. Children live very much in the present, and even in the hardest moments, there are stickers, bubbles, and unexpected laughter.”

As her training progressed, she gravitated towards nephrology.

“Kidney disease affects every part of a child’s life, from growth and development to education and emotional well-being,” she said.

“I wanted to understand why children developed kidney disease, not just how to manage the consequences.”

That curiosity drew her to the emerging field of clinical genetics, where answers to long-standing clinical questions were finally becoming possible.

From crisis management to prevention

By the time A/Prof Quinlan was an established clinician and researcher, she had begun to notice a troubling pattern.

“Families were living with uncertainty for years,” she said.

“Children were undergoing repeated tests, parents were anxious about future pregnancies, and clinicians often could not give clear answers about prognosis or treatment.”

The barrier was not a lack of science, but a lack of infrastructure and access.

Genetic testing existed, but it was fragmented, inconsistently funded, and largely confined to research laboratories.

“Even when clinicians suspected a genetic cause, there was no clear pathway to testing, counselling, or follow-up,” she said.

Determined to change that, she helped establish Victoria’s first kidney genetics service, moving genomics from the margins of research into the centre of clinical care.

For families, the impact was profound.

“We can now make earlier and more accurate diagnoses, tailor treatment, avoid unnecessary investigations, and anticipate complications before they arise,” she said.

“Over time, this has shifted care from crisis management to prevention and partnership.”

Learning to work across systems

As her clinical and research work expanded, A/Prof Quinlan soon learned that turning research into meaningful change required more than evidence.

“I realised that if I wanted my research to matter, I needed to understand how decisions were really made,” she said.

Recognising the need for broader skills, she completed a Global Executive MBA at Monash Business School.

“I learned to ask different questions, not just whether something worked, but whether it could scale, be sustained, and deliver value over time,” she said.

The MBA also gave her confidence to step into leadership spaces where women are often underrepresented.

“Like many women, I have navigated competing expectations, moments of self-doubt, and the practical challenges of balancing leadership with family life,” she said.

“There are still structural barriers in medicine and science. Limited networks, assumptions about leadership, and slow progress are real.”

Leadership, legacy and the long view

Now Director of Research Partnerships at Children’s Health Ireland, A/Prof Quinlan works to ensure that research translates into care that makes a real difference for families.

“Meeting children years later and seeing them thrive remains one of the greatest motivators in my work,” she said.

“If they felt listened to, supported, and better able to navigate uncertainty, then I will have done my job well.”

She also values her role in mentoring colleagues and trainees.

“Bringing others forward has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career,” she said.

More broadly, A/Prof Quinlan hopes her career demonstrates what is possible when rigorous research, thoughtful implementation, and genuine care are combined.

“If that combination has helped improve outcomes and shape the next generation of clinicians and leaders, that would feel like a meaningful legacy,” she said.

A/Prof Quinlan received the 2025 Monash Business School Dean’s Impact Award for her achievements improving children’s health outcomes.

Learn more about our annual alumni awards.