Rachel Black

Rachel Black

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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


Rachel is a rheumatologist and clinician researcher who completed her PhD in 2019 looking at the epidemiology and patient perspectives of glucocorticoid use and adverse effects in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Her interests include pharmacoepidemiology and the use of big data to answer research questions directly relevant to her clinical practice in rheumatology.

Current Projects

A Randomised Clinical Trial of a Glucocorticoid Tapering Intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients- Recruitment complete.

Reassessing The Mortality Gap in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Australia- A data linkage project.

OMERACT Glucocorticoid Working Group- Systematic literature review looking at validated instruments for measuring glucocorticoid outcomes in clinical trials.

Epidemiology of Rheumatic Diseases in Australia- A collaborative data linkage project.

Optimising transition care for adolescents with juvenile rheumatic disease in South Australia- A collaborative multi-methods service improvement project.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2018 - ongoing Consultant Rheumatologist The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
    2016 - ongoing Clinical Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2015 - ongoing Consultant Rheumatologist Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2015 Scholarship Arthritis SA/Australian Rheumatology Association (SA) Postgraduate Grant - - -
    2014 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award (The University of Adelaide) The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2013 Fellowship Ken Muirden Overseas Training Fellowship Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, The University of Manchester United Kingdom -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2013 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    1999 - 2004 University of Adelaide Australia MBBS
  • Postgraduate Training

    Date Title Institution Country
    2007 - 2012 FRACP Royal Australasian College of Physicians Australia
  • Research Interests

Primary Investigator Grants

1. Arthritis Australia- Australian Rheumatology Association Project Grant

Title: A Randomised Clinical Trial of a Glucocorticoid Tapering Intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Amount: $43,000

Period of award: 2023

Co-Investigator Grants

1. The Hospital Research Foundation Group- Advancing Diagnosis or Treatment of Child and Adolescent Rheumatic Diseases grant round

Title: Optimising transition care for adolescents with juvenile rheumatic disease in South Australia

Amount: $125,000

Period of Award: 2023-2025 

PI: Prof Catherine Hill

2. Arthritis Australia 2021-2022 National Research Program- Australian Rheumatology Association Grant-In-Aid

Title: Validation and integration of Patient Reported Experience Measures in outpatient rheumatology care in Australia

Amount: $15,000

Period of Award: 2022

PI: Dr Madeline Bryant

3. Arthritis Australia National Research Program 2020- Australian Rheumatology Association Project Grant

Title: Development of a patient reported outcome measure (prom) for glucocorticoid impact in rheumatic diseases 

Amount: $15,000

Period of Award: 2021

PI: Prof Catherine Hill

Other Funding

ARA Early Career Excellence Award                                                                2024          Amount: $2,000

RACP Barbara Cameron ARA Research Establishment Fellowship             2020          Amount: $50,000

Arthritis SA/ARA SA Branch Postgraduate Scholarship                                2015          Amount: $20,000

Australian Postgraduate Award, The University of Adelaide  (for PhD)      2014          Amount: $25,392 per year

Arthritis Australia Ken Muirden Overseas Training Fellowship                     2013          Amount: $100,000

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Co-Supervisor The influence of socioeconomic factors on medication use and health outcomes in Australians with rheumatoid arthritis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Oscar Kenneth Russell
    2023 Co-Supervisor Patient Reported Experience Measures in Australian outpatient rheumatology care Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Madeleine Bryant

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