Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty has had an exceptional year and is currently developing wellbeing and prevention of pain programs for CALD and First Nations people in collaboration with Wellbeing SA, Return to Work SA and ANMFSA.
In 2022, Murthy Mittinty was named the Emerging Leader in Health at the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. Since then, she has been further advocating for addressing the stigma associated with chronic pain, and has also shared her insights with Sandra Sully and Ali Aitken on the Channel Ten podcast Short Black, speaking about ways of staying true to one’s values.
As the Senior Lecturer at College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, she has also recently completed an advanced translational global research fellowship program with Harvard Medical School – a 12-month program designed to enhance the expertise of researchers across multiple disciplines.
We check in with the scientist and asked her a few questions about her latest thoughts around leadership, pain science and putting yourself forward.
On accepting the award you noted that mental health and chronic pain were two factors you urged people to talk about more, and to read up on — have any of your ideas around this issue changed in the past 12 months?
In the last year, I have been invited to present at various forums, meetings and seminars. This has led to deeper conversations around the need to focus on pain and mental health together for enhanced wellbeing of the individual living with pain.
Working alongside industry partners such as Wellbeing SA, ReturntoWorkSA and ANMFSA (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation) and family forums through Arthritis NSW has further validated the need to intervene early to support individuals engage meaningful in work, social and family life to manage pain.
This important work requires organisational-level support and can be achieved with meaningful integration with organisations with employer wellbeing at its core agenda. I am available and looking for synergistic collaborators to drive this work further.
What are you most concerned about now in 2023, regarding challenges facing women in science and academia?
Due to the immense amount of work put in by organisations such as Women’s Agenda championing women’s leadership, there is certainly more invitation to be seated at leadership tables that previously women, especially women of colour, did not have access to.
However, what I see and what concerns me a great deal is that there are still discrepancies in the opportunities these appointments lead to. Women often feel confined due to lack of support for scholarship in these roles. A lot of talent and drive is unutilised when it does not get supportive environment.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned when it comes to leadership?
The best piece of advice I believe that has resonated with me for years is to stay true to your core values. Life and work can sometimes present you with unfathomable challenges, but if you manage to stay true to your core values, you will find your way.
Also, surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
Do you have any advice for those who might be hesitating about putting their hand up for an opportunity – whether it’s for an award, a promotion or something else?
I would truly encourage you to apply for any opportunity. I don’t deny that it can lead to heartache and disappointment, but courage is like a muscle that needs exercising to fully flex.