Innovation meets impact – Pitch Night boosts healthcare transformation

When passionate healthcare professionals meet philanthropists committed to community impact, extraordinary things happen. This was the resounding message from our recent Women+ for Western Health Pitch Night, where three exceptional teams of staff presented ground-breaking projects that could reshape healthcare delivery across Melbourne's west.

Hosted by comedian and western suburbs personality Diana Nguyen, the evening showcased the innovative thinking and clinical expertise that drives Western Health's commitment to best practice care. The atmosphere was electric as healthcare professionals, community leaders and corporate partners gathered to witness the power of collaborative philanthropy in action.

Thank you to our major sponsor Plenary Health, whose partnership amplifies our ability to drive meaningful change across Western Health, as well as the Women+ for Western Health Giving Circle. Made up of passionate community members who pool together funds to collectively transform healthcare in the west, the Giving Circle represents a unique philanthropy model that delivers exponential impact.

The winning innovation: Saving babies through smoking cessation

Dr Suzy Kosmider, Director Cancer Services and Medical Oncologist and Dr Grace Gard, Medical Oncologist, securing the $50,000 grant for their project ‘Saving Babies – Delivering Best Care to our WH Families’, which will fund a smoking cessation program specifically designed for maternity patients. Their Smoking Telehealth Outpatient Program (STOP) Clinic represents a critical intervention that will transform outcomes for both mothers and babies.

The scale of potential impact is significant. With Western Health delivering 8,000 babies annually and approximately 10% of pregnant patients smoking, this initiative could directly improve outcomes for 800 babies each year. The duo, who have successfully operated the STOP Clinic for cancer patients, emphasized the urgency of this program.

This project addresses a critical health disparity in Melbourne's west, where smoking rates in areas like Brimbank reach 30% compared to the Victorian average of 18%. When mothers stop smoking before the third trimester, babies can catch up with their weight gain and achieve normal birth weights. The benefits extend far beyond immediate birth outcomes, with smoking cessation during pregnancy reducing lifelong risks of obesity, kidney disease, and heart disease in children. As soon as a patient stops smoking, health improvements begin immediately, creating short, medium and long-term gains for both mother and child.

Finalist projects: preventing fractures and supporting heart health

The calibre of innovation extended to both finalist projects, each addressing significant health challenges facing communities in the west.

Dr Lauren Nacey, MSc Solange Bernardo, and Dr Myrla Sales presented "Make Your First Fracture Your Last," a comprehensive approach to fragility fracture prevention. With 90-120 patients presenting with fragility fractures at Western Health each month, their project focuses on proactive intervention to prevent the devastating consequences of hip and spinal fractures.

The work of MSc Solange Bernardo, Fracture Liaison Nurse and Clinical Nurse Consultant, involves identifying at-risk patients before catastrophic fractures occur, but current resource limitations prevent comprehensive patient capture. The project's focus on standardised care and early osteoporosis treatment could help patients maintain independence and avoid premature aged care placement.

The impact of fracture prevention cannot be overstated. Dr Lauren Nacey, Geriatrician, highlights that only 30% of people who break their hip return to their previous level of mobility, with many patients experiencing permanent disability or death following fracture. For an aging population, fracture prevention represents a cornerstone of maintaining quality of life and independence.

Natalie Lumsden's ‘Cholesterol in Check, Back in the Game’ project addresses another critical health challenge: management of coronary heart disease. Her Facilitating Optimal Care Transitions in the Lives of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease (FOCIL) initiative would introduce a dedicated lipid nurse and co-designed patient resources to support long-term heart health after discharge.

The project targets a common healthcare challenge: patients who fail to maintain lipid-lowering therapy after hospitalisation for acute coronary syndrome, significantly raising their readmission risk. Through proactive, personalised care, the initiative aims to empower patients to better manage their cholesterol and reduce recurrent heart attack risk.

Past Pitch Night projects prevail

The lasting value of Pitch Night is evident in the success stories of previous grant recipients and finalists. Alex Potter, Director of Best Experience, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, won the 2023 grant for "Creating a Safe & Affirming Western Health for our LGBTQIA+ Communities," developed alongside Jan Kilicaslan.

Their project has exceeded expectations, successfully employing a Gender and Sexuality Liaison Clinician and securing additional funding to expand their work. The initiative now delivers comprehensive clinical support and affirming care to LGBTIQA+ consumers and staff while providing essential training and education across the health service.

Alex emphasizes that driving systematic change requires collaborative effort, particularly when implementing innovative approaches. Their experience demonstrates that Pitch Night serves as more than funding—it provides validation and momentum for transformative ideas and represents the beginning of a journey that can lead to substantial organisational and patient care improvements.

Perhaps most encouraging for future participants is the experience of 2024 finalist Dina Pogrebnoy, whose project ‘Fast-Tracking Stroke Recovery Through Representation and Inclusion’ attracted significant support despite not winning the grant. Two attendees approached Dina directly after her presentation, offering support for her work in supporting stroke survivors in their rehabilitation journey with digitally enabled, ‘fit-for-purpose’ multilingual self-management resources. The initiative ensures that all patients, regardless of language, have the tools they need for effective recovery.

This additional support has enabled Dina to build an expert team preparing for a 2026 clinical trial on the rehabilitation ward to test efficacy of resources amongst Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. Pilot data from the trial will provide the foundation needed to compete for larger grant schemes which will allow for an effectiveness trial.

Investing in future innovation

Whether developing new clinical protocols, designing patient experience improvements, or researching better treatment approaches, there's a community and like-minded organisations ready to support transformative ideas.

The success stories from both winners and finalists illustrate that Pitch Night offers multiple pathways to success. The event provides validation for innovative thinking from anywhere within the hospital, connects passionate healthcare professionals with supportive networks, and creates momentum for ideas that can transform patient care and health outcomes across the west.