Dr. Marnee McKay | Strength | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Marnee McKay, The University of Sydney, Australia

Marnee McKay, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. Her research focuses on outcome measure assessment and development, building on her doctoral work known as the 1000 Norms Project. This project aims to improve the understanding and treatment of various neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders by developing precise and responsive outcome measures for use in clinical trials.Dr. McKay leads the 1000 Norms Project Consortium, an interdisciplinary group overseeing the implementation of reference values from the project. She has also co-developed ClinicalOutcomeMeasures.org, a web-based scoring system used for deep phenotyping and monitoring response to therapy. Her expertise in outcome measure assessment has led her to lead measurement efforts in diverse national and international collaborative projects. Dr. McKay holds several leadership positions, including co-chair of the University Early and Mid-Career Academic Network (SEMCAN).

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education:

2017: Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Sydney
Thesis title: 1000 Norms Project: Measures of physical function across the lifespan
2001: Master of Health Science (Sports Physiotherapy), The University of Sydney
1993: Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), The University of Sydney

Professional Registration:

Registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice physiotherapy in Australia; Registration number: PHY0001153450 ORCID: 0000-0002-8126-3579

Brief Biography:

Marnee McKay is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. Her research focuses on outcome measure assessment and development, particularly in neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. She leads the 1000 Norms Project Consortium, which implements reference values for physical function. Marnee is also the co-lead for ClinicalOutcomeMeasures.org, a web-based scoring system for deep phenotyping and monitoring therapy response, used globally.

Position Held:

2021 – Current: Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney
2017 – 2020: Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney
2016 – 2017: Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney
2011 – 2016: Discipline Specialist, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney

Awards and Recognition:

2024: FMH Maker and Shaper Award for Outstanding Innovation and Commitment to Improving Graduate Employability
2022: Jill Chapman Award for Best Clinical Paper, Australian Hand Therapy Association
2022: VC Award to SEMCAN for Outstanding Mentoring and Leadership
2022: Winner SEMCAN Good Mentor Award
2020: Dean’s Citation in Outstanding Teaching and Learning