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Adjunct Associate Professor Jim Codde
Director, Health Service Planning, South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Western Australian Department of Health
BSc, Dip Ed., PhD, UWA

Because of my passion for chemistry (my favourite unit at UWA), I completed an organic chemistry/biochemistry double major to give myself the best career opportunities. After graduation I took a hospital-based biochemist position but subsequently changed direction by accepting an offer to teach science at a private secondary school. While teaching mainly chemistry and biology, I completed my Diploma of Education part-time.

Four years later I enrolled in a PhD when I joined a research team in the University Department of Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).  During this time I supplemented by scholarship by working part time in the biochemistry laboratories at King Edward Memorial Hospital. After working for almost a decade as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Schools and Medicine and Surgery at RPH I accepted a ‘temporary’ position in the Epidemiology Branch of the WA Department of Health (DOH).  Sixteen years later I am still with the Department, having occupied a number of managerial positions.

My work in the DOH now focuses on planning acute hospital care but also includes planning for emergency care and community based services. At this stage of my life, I’m keen to ‘leave a legacy’ through mentoring or teaching someone younger and providing a tangible benefit to the community such as contributing to the development of the new Fiona Stanley Hospital.

What advice would you give someone who is considering taking up a degree in Science at UWA?
Follow your passion and your career will find its own path.