The University of Sydney

Centre for Disability Studies

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+61-2-9036-3605

+61-2-9036-3613

Dr Seeta Durvasula is a Medical Lecturer in Developmental Disabilities at the Centre for Disability Studies, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. She is also a Consultant Medical Officer at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, and Affiliate Physician at the Diagnostic and Assessment Services, St George Hospital, Kogarah.

Seeta teaches in the medical program at the University of Sydney. She is also a coordinator for the “Physical Health of People with Developmental Disability” Unit in the University of Sydney Postgraduate Program in Developmental Disability. Seeta supervises medical students in their clinical elective terms, and general practitioner registrars in their academic training posts in developmental disability.

Seeta consults at clinics for adolescents and adults with developmental disability at the NSW Developmental Disability Health Unit, Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney. She also conducts a monthly medical clinic at the Diagnostic and Assessment Services, St George Hospital. Seeta’s research interests are in mortality, falls, vitamin D deficiency and health care evaluation in people with developmental disability. Seeta is currently doing her PhD at the University of Sydney on the topic Sunlight exposure and vitamin D status in older people in residential care.

Seeta is a reviewer for Medical Journal of Australia, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, and Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, and is an Editorial Consultant for the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. She is a Committee Member of the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine.

PUBLICATIONS
Peer reviewed publications

Durvasula S, Kok, C, Sambrook PN, Cumming, RG, Lord, SR, March LM, Mason RS, Seibel, MJ, Simpson, JM, Cameron ID (2010). Sunlight and health: Attitudes of older people living in intermediate care facilities in southern Australia. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. In Press

Durvasula S, Stancliffe RJ, Clemson C, Sherrington C, Mackenzie L (2009). Falls and associated risk factors in adults with intellectual disability: A chart review of a clinic population (Abstract). Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities. 6(2): 103-4.

Vanlint M, Nugent M, Durvasula S, Downs J, Leonard H. (2008) Vitamin D and people with intellectual disability. Australian Family Physician 37(5): 348-351

Vanlint M, Nugent M, Durvasula S, Downs J, Leonard H (2008). A guide for the assessment and management of vitamin D status in people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 33(2): 184-188

Emerson E & Durvasula S (2005) Health inequalities and people with intellectual disabilities: an introduction to the special issue (Editorial). JARID 18(2): 95-6

Durvasula S, Beange H, Baker W, Bell D.(2004) Mortality of people with intellectual disability in northern Sydney: Associated factors (Abstract) Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 48(4, 5): 432

Durvasula S, Beange H & Baker W. (2002) Mortality of people with intellectual disability in Northern Sydney Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 27(4): 255-264

Durvasula S, Beange H. (2001) Health inequalities in people with intellectual disability: strategies for improvement. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 11(1): 27-3

Einfeld SL, Smith A, Durvasula S, Florio T, Tonge B. (1999) Behavioural and emotional disturbance in Prader-Willi Syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics 82: 123-127

Book chapters

Durvasula S, Stewart L & Hemsley B. (2005). Nutritional Disorders. In Lennox N. (Ed.) Management Guidelines: Developmental Disability (pp163-172). Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd.

Durvasula S, Hemsley B, Stewart L. (2005). Dysphagia. In Lennox N. (Ed.) Management Guidelines: Developmental Disability (pp173-178). Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd.

Reports / Guidelines
2000-2009

Durvasula S, Yazbeck M (May 2009). Evaluation of the “Ensuring Good Nutrition” Policy. Report for NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

Durvasula S (2007) Measuring the impact of the DADHC “Client Health Policy” on clients in DADHC funded services. Report for the NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care.

Durvasula S, Klause J. (2006) Health care in people with intellectual disability: Guidelines for General Practitioners. Published by Centre for Developmental Disability Studies for NSW Health.

Durvasula S, Townsend V. (2004) Palliative care needs of children and adults with intellectual disability. Literature review and report for NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care.

Durvasula S, Townsend V. (2004) Sudden death in epilepsy and management of acute seizures in people with intellectual disability. Literature review and report for NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care.

Klaus J, Durvasula S. (2004) Promoting physical activity in people with developmental disability: Practice guidelines for staff and carers. Developed for the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

Preventative Women’s Health Care for Women with Disabilities: Guidelines for General Practitioners (2003). Published in conjunction with the NSW Cervical Screening Programme.

Durvasula S, Buzio A, Yazbeck M. (2003) Increasing the sensitivity of the public hospitals to the needs of people with disabilities during hospitalisation - development of a training package for hospital staff. Developed for NSW Health.

Hemsley B, Durvasula S. (2002) Nutrition Practice Guidelines for DADHC Disability Services Clinical Staff working with people with intellectual disability who have special nutritional needs due to swallowing difficulty, mealtime behaviours, or obesity Developed for NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

Hemsley B, Durvasula S, Parmenter T, Caithness T, Buzio A, Green V, Novak I. (2001) Informed Decision Making for the management of dysphagia in people with developmental disability. Commissioned by the NSW Department of Health and NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

Conferences / Workshops
Selected presentations, 2005-2009

Durvasula S. Specialist health services for people with intellectual disability – Invited presentation at NSW CID Health Forum – Masonic Centre, Sydney, 11th August 2009.

Durvasula S, Stancliffe R, Clemson L, Cox C, Sherrington C, MacKenzie L. Falls and associated risk factors in adults with intellectual disability: A chart review of a clinic population. Presentation at International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability (IASSID) 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Congress – Singapore, 24-27th June, 2009.

Durvasula S. Dementia in people with intellectual disability: approaches to diagnosis and management – Invited presentation to Alzheimer’s Australia “Disabilities and Dementia Workshop” – Parramatta, Sydney, 6.4.09

Durvasula S., Riches V. Developmental disability and mental health: Issues in assessment and management – Invited presentation at Manly Warringah Division of General Practice education session, October, 2008.

Durvasula S. Sunlight exposure and vitamin D status in older people in residential care. Presentation at Postgraduate Research Student Seminar (PReSS) – Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, 27.6.08

Durvasula S. Health issues and services for people with disabilities – Invited presentation to Multicultural Disability Advocacy Forum - Harris Park, Sydney, 26.6.08

Durvasula S. Health of older people with intellectual disability – Invited presentation at “Hot topics in intellectual disability” – ASSID NSW and Disability Professionals NSW Forum, West Ryde, Sydney, 16.5.08

Durvasula S. Transition in developmental disability – Invited presentation in session on Transitional care - in Paediatric Update Forum for paediatricians, Children’s Hospital Westmead, November 2007.

Durvasula S. Mortality of people with intellectual disability in northern Sydney – Invited presentation to the HACC Regional Forum, Ryde, October 2007.

Durvasula S. National chronic disease management strategies: are they relevant to people with intellectual disability? - IASSID Health SIRG conference – Prato, Italy, 2007

Durvasula S. Health care planning & promotion for preventative health. Invited presentation at Challenge Foundation and New England Division of General Practice workshop “Complex disability care: current care issues and directions”. Armidale, November 2006.

Durvasula S. Developmental disability – the evidence: the Guidelines and Health assessments in people with developmental disability – Invited presentations at SIGPET GP Supervisor Professional Development Weekend workshop “Expanding Skills in Chronic Disease: Disability in Focus”, Windsor, November 2006.

Durvasula S. Sunlight, skin cancer and bones: Making sense of “mixed” messages. 41st Annual ASSID Conference, Canberra, September 2006.

Durvasula S, Law J, McElduff A. Vitamin D deficiency in people with developmental disability – 40th Annual ASSID Conference, Auckland, NZ. October 2005.

Durvasula S. Promoting physical activity in people with developmental disability: a workshop. – 40th Annual ASSID Conference, Auckland, NZ. October 2005.

Bennett J, Durvasula S. Nutritional management in people with developmental disability: the influence of care givers - CDDHV Conference - Developing better health outcomes for people with developmental disability. Melbourne, September 2005.