Michala Short

Research Interests

Cancer Therapy Digital health Evaluation of health outcomes Health sciences Radiation Therapy

Dr Michala Short

Senior Lecturer

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Michala Short is a Senior Lecturer in Radiation Therapy and researcher at UniSA's Allied Health and Human Performance academic unit. Michala's research focuses on improving the lives of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, which has been the underlying theme throughout her clinical and academic career. In 2021, Michala was the recipient of the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science award, which recognises those whose contribution to science has been significant over a long period of time but who have not yet received formal public recognition.
Michala's specific research interests relate to precision in radiation therapy image verification, understanding how radiation therapy impacts patients' quality of life in particular fatigue, and more recently, the role of proton therapy in cancer management. During her PhD research Michala was the recipient of the prestigious Cancer Institute NSW Scholar Award and since then has received seed funding to investigate late effects of proton therapy (2017), an Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant (2018) to visit overseas proton therapy centres and establish international research collaborations and funding from The Hospital Research Foundation (2021) to develop an online health-related quality of life platform for children with cancer. Michala's publications have spanned a range of topics including communication and information provision in radiation therapy, quality of life in patients with prostate and pancreatic cancer as well as a number of literature reviews on toxicities after SABR for lung cancer and outcomes after proton therapy in paediatric patients.
Michala is actively involved in supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and has a teaching role within several core second and third year radiation therapy courses. Michala holds a PhD in Radiation Therapy from The University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Medical Radiations, Radiation Therapy (Honours) from the University of South Australia.
In her spare time, Michala enjoys heading outdoors with her family and loves hiking, spending summers at the beach, bike riding and the occasional ski trip.

Quality of life assessment in cancer

Long-term side-effects of radiation therapy

Survey interpretation and analysis

Image verification

Proton therapy in cancer management

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2021 Recognition Unsung Hero of South Australian Science National Science Week Australia -
2007 Research Award Cancer Institute NSW Scholar Award Cancer Institute of New South Wales Australia -

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Date Institution name Country Title
2006 - 2025 University of Sydney Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2003 - 2004 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Medical Radiation (Honours)
1999 - 2001 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Medical Radiation

Year Citation
2025 Bacorro, W., Bautista, A., Amparo, G., Tagayuna, I., Madera, J., Jainar, C. J., . . . Canlas, R. (2025). Effectiveness and utility of a patient decision aid for chemotherapy or exclusion in cisplatin-intolerant patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (CECIL): a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy, 9(1), 1-12.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2025 Wood, L., Giles, E., Cunningham, L., Le, H., Zientara, N., & Short, M. (2025). Proton therapy patient selection methods and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional international survey. Journal Of Medical Radiation Sciences, online(3), 1-8.
DOI
2025 Doig, M., Cunningham, A., Bedford, V., Le, H., O'Connor, M., Bezak, E., . . . Short, M. (2025). Healthcare professional perspectives on digital health-related quality-of-life assessment in paediatric radiation therapy: a qualitative study. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, online, 1-9.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2025 Doig, M., Lee, J., Kwok, Y., MacEwan, I., Wolden, S., Allison, K., . . . Yock, T. I. (2025). Impact of substructure radiation dose on health-related quality of life in children with brain tumors: a Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR) study. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, online(3), 1443-1453.
DOI
2025 Doig, M., Cunningham, A., Bedford, V., Le, H., O'Connor, M., Jessop, S., . . . Short, M. (2025). Development and Evaluation of an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Platform for Children Undergoing Radiation Therapy. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, online, 11 pages.
DOI
2024 Wood, L., Giles, E., Cunningham, L., Le, H., Zientara, N., & Short, M. (2024). Proton radiation therapy patient selection and impacts of COVID-19: A scoping review. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 71(S2), 37-46.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2024 Bacorro, W., Short, M., Baldivia, K., Mariano, J., Bautista, A., Amparo, G., . . . Canlas, R. (2024). Shared decision making in oncology and its implementation in cervical cancer management in the Philippines: a narrative review. JCO Global Oncology, vol. 10(10), 1-8.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Short, M. (2024). Review of the Book Particle Therapy Technology for Safe Treatment Edited by Jay Flanz, CRC Press-Taylor & Francis Group, 2022, ISBN: 9780367643119. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 71(S2), 101.
DOI
2023 Short, M., & Giles, E. (2023). 'Is the technology essential or emerging?' Ways to keep radiation therapy curriculum agile amid rapidly advancing technology. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 70(S2), 89-93.
DOI
2023 Ebert, A., Short, M., Pule, L., Marcu, L., & Buckely, E. (2023). Variations in patterns of care of rectal cancer patients in South Australia according to sociodemographic characteristics: a registry study. European Journal of Cancer Care, 2023(7974059), 1-7.
DOI
2023 Dell'oro, M., Wilson, P., Short, M., Peukert, D., & Bezak, E. (2023). Modelling the influence of radiosensitivity on development of second primary cancer in out-of-field organs following proton therapy for paediatric cranial cancer. British Journal of Radiology, 96(1150), 20230161.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2022 Zientara, N., Giles, E., Le, H., & Short, M. (2022). A scoping review of patient selection methods for proton therapy. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 69(1), 108-121.
DOI Scopus15 WoS15 Europe PMC14
2022 Dell'Oro, M., Wilson, P., Short, M., Hua, C. H., Merchant, T. E., & Bezak, E. (2022). Normal tissue complication probability modeling to guide individual treatment planning in pediatric cranial proton and photon radiotherapy. Medical Physics, 49(1, article no. e15360), 742-755.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC7
2022 Dell'Oro, M., Short, M., Wilson, P., Peukert, D., Hua, C. -H., Merchant, T. E., & Bezak, E. (2022). Lifetime attributable risk of radiation induced second primary cancer from scattering and scanning proton therapy - A model for out-of-field organs of paediatric patients with cranial cancer.. Radiother Oncol, 172, 65-75.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2022 Doig, M., Bezak, E., Parange, N., Gorayski, P., Bedford, V., & Short, M. (2022). Can we compare the health-related quality of life of childhood cancer survivors following photon and proton radiation therapy? A systematic review. Cancers, 14(16), 1-24.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2021 Short, M., & Giles, E. (2021). Innovative strategies implemented by universities to support medical radiation science students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 68(4), 482-488.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC7
2021 Dell'Oro, M., Short, M., Wilson, P., & Bezak, E. (2021). Normal tissue tolerance amongst paediatric brain tumour patients- current evidence in proton radiotherapy. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 164(103415), 1-12.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2021 Cunningham, L., Penfold, S., Giles, E. G., Le, H., & Short, M. (2021). Impact of breast size on dosimetric indices in proton versus X-ray radiotherapy for breast cancer. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(4, article no. 282), 1-12.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC4
2020 Chan, S., Giles, E., Newmarch, L., & Short, M. (2020). Effect of patient size on image quality in radiotherapy kV planar verification imaging: a phantom study. Journal of medical radiation sciences, 67(1), 34-42.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC3
2020 Dell'Oro, M., Short, M., Wilson, P., & Bezak, E. (2020). Clinical Limitations of Photon, Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.. Cancers, 12(1), 31 pages.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2020 Morias, S., Buckley, E., Beckmann, K., O'Callaghan, M., Borg, M., & Short, M. (2020). Variation in radiotherapy patterns of care in the radical treatment of South Australian men with non-metastatic prostate cancer between 2005–2015. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 145, 138-145.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2020 Dell'Oro, M., Short, M., Wilson, P., Hua, C. -H., Gargone, M., Merchant, T. E., & Bezak, E. (2020). Influence of Target Location, Size, and Patient Age on Normal Tissue Sparing- Proton and Photon Therapy in Paediatric Brain Tumour Patient-Specific Approach.. Cancers (Basel), 12(9), 22 pages.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC9
2019 Huynh, M., Marcu, L. G., Giles, E., Short, M., Matthews, D., & Bezak, E. (2019). Are further studies needed to justify the use of proton therapy for paediatric cancers of the central nervous system? A review of current evidence. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 133, 140-148.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC12
2018 Morias, S., Marcu, L., Short, M., Giles, E., & Bezak, E. (2018). Do SABR-related toxicities for lung cancer depend on treatment delivery?. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 129, 67-78.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2018 Huynh, M., Marcu, L. G., Giles, E., Short, M., Matthews, D., & Bezak, E. (2018). Current status of proton therapy outcome for paediatric cancers of the central nervous system – Analysis of the published literature. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 70, 272-288.
DOI Scopus20 WoS16 Europe PMC11
2018 Morias, S., Marcu, L. G., Short, M., Giles, E., Potter, A., Shepherd, J., . . . Bezak, E. (2018). Treatment-Related Adverse Effects in Lung Cancer Patients after Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy. Journal of Oncology, 2018(6483626), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus19 WoS16 Europe PMC11
2017 Halkett, G. K. B., Short, M., Aoun, S., Joseph, D., Bydder, S., Meng, X., & Spry, N. (2017). What pelvic radiation disease symptoms are experienced by patients receiving external beam radiotherapy and a high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer?. Journal of contemporary brachytherapy, 9(5), 393-402.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2013 Short, M., Goldstein, D., Halkett, G., Reece, W., Borg, M., Zissiadis, Y., . . . Spry, N. (2013). Impact of gemcitabine chemotherapy and 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy/5-fluorouracil on quality of life of patients managed for pancreatic cancer. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 85(1), 157-162.
DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC10
2010 Halkett, G. K. B., Merchant, S., Jiwa, M., Short, M., Arnet, H., Carson, S., . . . Kristjanson, L. (2010). Effective communication and information provision in radiotherapy - the role of radiation therapists. Journal of radiotherapy in practice, 9(1), 3-16.
DOI Scopus40 WoS38
2009 Halkett, G. K. B., Short, M., & Kristjanson, L. J. (2009). How do radiation oncology health professionals inform breast cancer patients about the medical and technical aspects of their treatment?. Radiotherapy and oncology, 90(1), 153-159.
DOI Scopus37 WoS29 Europe PMC25
2008 Short, M., Banati, R. B., & Cox, J. (2008). Radiation therapy treatment verification imaging in Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 52(2), 183-190.
DOI Scopus7 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2008 Short, M., Halkett, G., Banati, R. B., & Cox, R. J. (2008). Radiation therapists' perceptions of the minimum level of experience required to perform portal image analysis. Radiography, 14(4), 294-300.
DOI Scopus13 WoS10
2005 Rybovic, M., Halkett, G. K. B., & Williams, M. T. (2005). Do confidence, formal training or years of experience influence the accuracy of electronic portal image review by radiation therapists?. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 4(2-3), 78-85.
DOI Scopus7
2004 Rybovic, M., Halkett, G. K. B., & Williams, M. T. (2004). Measurement of anatomy contouring in EPI review: a practical method for use in radiation therapy departments. Radiographer, 51(1), 23-28.
DOI Scopus1

Year Citation
2025 Bacorro, W., Bautista, A., Amparo, G., Tagayuna, I., Madera, J., Jainar, C. J., . . . Canlas, R. (2025). Effectiveness and Utility of the CECIL Patient Decision Aid for Cisplatin-Intolerant Cervical Cancer Patients (NCT05701735). In RADIOTHERAPY AND ONCOLOGY Vol. 206 (pp. S2258-S2259). ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD.
2022 Doig, M., Bezak, E., Parange, N., Gorayski, P., Bedford, V., & Short, M. (2022). HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES FOLLOWING PHOTON AND PROTON RADIATION THERAPY FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER. In PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER Vol. 69 (pp. S510). WILEY.

  • Ripple: Supporting young minds after cancer treatment, The Hospital Research Foundation, 01/10/2024 - 30/11/2026

Courses I teach

  • RADY 1017 Introduction to Medical Radiation Practice (2025)
  • RADY 2011 Radiation Therapy Studies 1 (2025)
  • RADY 2015 Radiation Therapy Clinical Practice 1 (2025)
  • RADY 3029 Radiation Therapy Studies 2 (2025)
  • RADY 3031 Radiation Therapy Studies 4 (2025)
  • RADY 3032 CT and PET Imaging (2025)
  • RADY 4045 Radiation Therapy Clinical Practice 3 (2025)
  • RADY 2015 Radiation Therapy Clinical Practice 1 (2024)
  • RADY 3029 Radiation Therapy Studies 2 (2024)
  • RADY 3030 Radiation Therapy Studies 3 (2024)
  • REHB 3010 Health Science Honours Preparation (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • IBRS - Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science
  • IHRS - Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Honours)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kelly Skelton
2021 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Mikaela Doig

Date Role Membership Country
2024 - ongoing Member Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society -
2023 - ongoing Member Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) -
2019 - ongoing Member Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) -
2018 - ongoing Member Particle Therapy Co-operative Group -
2001 - ongoing Member Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy -

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