Jared Watts

Biography

Associate Professor Jared Watts 

MBBS(Hons) MPMTM MRMed MIPH MMA AFRACMA AFACHSM AAICD FRANZCOG 

Associate Professor Jared Watts is a leading specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with extensive experience in rural and remote obstetrics and gynaecology, policy development, medical administration, and leadership, as well as research. Jared is currently the Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for the Western Australia (WA) Country Health Service and the Head of Department in the Kimberley, a remote and isolated area of northern Australia. He works primarily with First Nation’s women and their families to provide comprehensive care over a geographical area of over 2.5 million square kilometres. Jared also works and volunteers internationally in several low resource setting and is a medical coordinator and Associate Professor for the WA Rural Clinical School.  

Jared is passionate that all women and their families, irrespective of their location, have access to the best available evidence-based care possible. He is acutely aware of how social determinants affect health outcomes, especially for First Nation’s people. His advocacy, research and teaching therefore aims to assist in addressing this through improving the availability of screening and treatment options in isolated areas and how health services and education for healthcare workers can be developed in low resource settings. He is involved in teaching and curriculum development at a university and College level and is actively involved in national research as a chief primary investigator, collaborator, and supervisor for medical students, registrars, and colleagues. 

Jared is currently one of the youngest Board members ever elected to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), where he has brought a novel and innovative approach to the organisation’s leadership and development. He has also provided a more direct connection and voice between trainees and early career specialists to the Board, which has immensely benefited the organisation.  

Jared has worked globally as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in many low resource areas, including within active war zones. This has included south-east Asia, West Africa, and the Middle East. With these roles, Jared’s aim has always been to develop the local capacity through education, hands on teaching and developing local resources and policy. While working in Australia, he continues to support these hospitals and health services through providing remote telehealth advice and ongoing advocacy.  

Jared’s research interest also involves the provision of high quality and evidence-based gynaecology and obstetrics services in low resource settings. Examples includes point of care HPV testing with reflex colposcopy for isolated and remote patients and the prevention of surgical wound infections also in low resource settings. He has been involved in international collaborations regarding low fidelity simulation teaching and telehealth obstetrics. His work within HPV testing has been used in the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, with extensive interest for international collaboration.  

Education 

• Bachelor of Medicine, of Bachelor Surgery with Honours  
• Masters of Reproductive Medicine (UNSW) 
• Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with Excellence (JCU) 
• Masters of International Public Health with Distinction (UNSW) 
• Masters of Medical Administration and Leadership with Distinction (UNSW) 
• Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist 
• Associate Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators 
• Associate Fellow of the Australia College of Health Service Managers 
• Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors 

Employment 

• Rural and Remote Obstetrician Gynaecologist  
• Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology – Kimberley Region 
• Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology – WA Country Health Service 
• Medical Coordinator – WA Rural Clinical School 
• Medicine Sans Frontier Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  

Professional Membership 

• Board Member and Non-Executive Director for Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist  
• Clinical Senator – Western Australian Department of Health 

Academic Positions 

• Associate Professor and Medical Coordinator – Rural Clinical School of Western Australia – University of Western Australia, Notre Dame University and Curtin University 

Current Research 

• PREVENT Study – Novel POC HPV testing in remote areas with reflect colposcopy to increase update of cervical screening. 
• Yarning Project – First Nation’s experience of obstetrics and gynaecology in rural and remote areas 
• Rural Mapping Project – service mapping for rural women’s access to gynaecology across Australia 
• Caesarean Section Infection Prevention in Rural and Low Resource Settings 

Recent Awards 

• WA Rural Specialist of the Year 2023 
• Excellence in Women’s Health Care Medal 2021 
• Inaugural RANZCOG Organisation Values Award 2022 
• Innovation in Teaching Award 2022