Michael Nicholl

Clinical Director, Division of Women’s Children’s & Family Health

State or Territory:

  • New South Wales

Primary position including institution/organisation:

  • Clinical Director, Division of Women’s, Children’s & Family Health, Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney

About Michael Nicholl:

  • Clinical Professor Michael Nicholl is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist based at Royal North Shore Hospital and has an extensive clinical background, having trained in New South Wales and the United Kingdom.
  • His clinical work involves the management of high risk pregnancies at a hospital, network and state level. He is the Clinical Director for the Maternal, Neonatal, and Women’s Health Network for Northern Sydney Local Health District and Clinical Director for the Division of Women’s Children’s and Family Health for North Shore Ryde Health Service.
  • He is currently the Senior Clinical Advisor Obstetrics to NSW Health and is the immediate past president of Women’s Healthcare Australasia.
  • Michael is a Clinical Professor with the University of Sydney Northern Clinical School and has a PhD in obstetric risk management as well as a Masters in Business Administration specialising in public sector management.
  • He is recognised for his translational perinatal research and has chaired both research advisory and drug monitoring committees. He chairs several NSW Health committees and has been actively involved in state and national safety and quality programs.

Why does preventing early birth matter to you?

“Preterm birth has consequences for the preterm baby but also has wider implications for parents, the community and the country. The cost that preterm birth places on individuals, the health system and society is considerable and we need to focus our efforts to reduce this burden. The clinical problem is multifactorial in its origin; however, there is much we can do to reduce the variation in clinical practice that occurs across the health system. In particular we need to address the issue of iatrogenic preterm birth through improved clinical decision making and a reduction in clinical uncertainty. We need to get existing evidence into practice so that we can focus our attention on those clinical questions that still need answers.”

The Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance is working to safely lower the rate of early birth across Australia.