HRI’s Research Fellow Dr Katrina Giskes has been awarded the NSW & ACT Dr Charlotte Hespe Research Award for her outstanding work as a General Practitioner by GP Synergy.
As part of the Heart Rhythm and Stroke Prevention Group at HRI, Dr Giskes is working towards improving understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the implementation of screening for AF.
AF is a common condition where the heart beats irregularly or rapidly and increases the risk of other complications such as heart failure and stroke. Although AF can have symptoms such as an irregular pulse, heart palpitations, dizziness, tiredness and weakness, people often have no symptoms at all or only experience symptoms some of the time. It is therefore important to diagnose the condition early for correct medical treatment.
