Dr Simone Ormsby

Position

Casual postdoctoral research assistant SoNM and NICM Health Research Institute. Tutor SoSH Masters of Public Health and Health Science programme. Adjunct Fellow NICM Health Research Institute. Co-Lead Society of Acupuncture Research (SARS) Basic Science Research Group [USA].

Biography

Dr Simone Ormsby has an Honours Degree in Molecular Biology/Genetics; a Bachelor of Health Science in Chinese Medicine (acupuncture); and a Higher Degree by Research PhD. She received four academic excellence awards during her acupuncture degree, an Australian Postgraduate Award and NICM Health Research Institute Top-Up Scholarship for her PhD investigation, and an Outstanding Junior Researcher Award from the Society for Acupuncture Research for her PhD findings. Simone was a research scientist for seven years, prior to becoming as acupuncturist (currently 24 years of continuous practice).

Simone became interested in acupuncture research, especially the potential mechanistic effects, in order to bridge the gap between the fields. Simone’s PhD analysis explored mental health disturbances during pregnancy, and incorporated biomarker alterations, mood scores changes and the perspectives of acupuncture recipients and health care providers. Simone has recently completed a pilot post-birth survey study exploration of birthing outcomes and women’s experiences of receiving acupuncture in her clinic, for the preparation of labour and birth [funded by a Pat Brodie grant, with Professor Dahlen]. This study will serve as a basis for a more robust evaluation.

Simone has lectured in Chinese medicine and Western bioscience at the Endeavour College of Natural Medicine, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, and NICM Health Research Institute, and a tutor in the School of Science and Health, Masters of Health programme. Simone is an adjunct fellow at NICM Health and Research Institute, and co-lead of the SARs Basic Science Special Interest Group, for which she regularly writes newsletter snapshots of acupuncture mechanistic investigations (also to published in ‘Acupuncture Today’).

Simone has special interests in epi-/genetics, fertility, obstetrics, nutrition, women’s and men’s perinatal health, infant outcomes, and postnatal sequelae.

Simone runs a busy Traditional East Asian Medicine (acupuncture) practice, seeing on average between 45-50 people a week, whilst also pursuing her academic career interests.

Research Interests

• Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) theory and practice, mechanistic evaluation underlying TEAM effects, practice issues and knowledge dissemination.
• Women’s health particularly including fertility, obstetrics, birthing, and postpartum health.
• Male fertility issues and perinatal men’s health.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Genetics, epigenetics and molecular biology.

Qualifications and Recognition

• BSc (Hons. Genetics and Molecular Biology, Syd. Uni.);
• BHSc (Traditional Chinese Medicine, UTS);
• Higher Degree by Clinical Research PhD (Western Sydney University).
• Four academic excellence awards during her acupuncture degree, an Australian Postgraduate Award and NICM Top-Up Scholarship for her PhD investigation, and an Outstanding Junior Researcher Award from the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) for her PhD findings.

Research & Publications

• For a complete list of my publications please see my publications page (opens in a new window)
• View my ResearchGate profile (opens in a new window)
• View my Orcid ID (opens in a new window)

Contact Details