Ms Barbara Elizabeth Cormack

Biography

Barbara Cormack graduated MHSC with 1st class honours from the University of Auckland in 2012. She leads the team of the Paediatric Dietitians at Starship Children’s Health at Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand and works as a Neonatal Specialist Dietitian at National Women’s Health.
She is the author of the Neonatal and Infant Nutrition Handbook (now in its 4rd Edition). 

Research | Current

PhD topic: Does better early nutrition in preterm babies improve growth and neurodevelopment?

Supervisors: Professors Frank Bloomfield and Caroline Crowther

The ProVIDE Study

Protein IVN: Impact on Development

Does better early nutrition in preterm babies improve development?
The ProVIDE Study is a multicentre, two-arm, double-blind, placebo controlled randomised trial.

Chief Investigator: Professor Frank Bloomfield

Primary Investigator: Barbara Cormack

Aim: To determine in extremely low birthweight babies (birthweight < 1000g) whether an extra 1 g protein per day for the first 5 days after birth will improve survival free of neurodisability at age 2 years; (ii) improve body composition and (iii) prevent faltering growth at hospital discharge.

Intervention: All participants will receive normal neonatal intensive care and intravenous nutrition in accordance with established NICU guidelines in each centre. The control group will receive a 0.45% saline solution via the umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) according to current clinical practice. The intervention group will receive a UAC solution of 8.5% TrophAmine (an amino acid solution providing ~1 g to 2 g/Kg.d protein). 

Eligibility criteria: Babies born with a birthweight of less than 1000 g in whom a clinical decision to place an umbilical arterial catheter has been made and whose parents/caregivers have given written informed consent.

Number of participants required: 430

Date recruitment started: 29 May 2014

Date recruitment finished/planned: June 2017

Funding source: Health Research Council of New Zealand, Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, A+ Trust, Cure Kids, Lottery Grants Board and the Nurture Foundation.

Teaching | Current

 

2011- to 2014	Dietitians Board Dietitian Prescribing Training Course Coordinator and workshop lecturer for Dietitian Prescriber endorsement to scope of practice for, New Zealand
2013 – to present	Neonatal nutrition and paediatric cardiology and nutrition, Master of Health Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics students, University of Auckland
2010 – to present	Neonatal nutrition and paediatric cardiology and nutrition, Masters of Dietetics students, Otago University
2002 - to present	Neonatal nutrition and paediatric cardiology and nutrition, Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics, Melbourne
2002 - to 2012	Paediatric nutrition, Postgraduate Diploma of Dietetics students - tutorials
2000 - to 2012	Clinical placements teacher, Postgraduate Diploma of Dietetics students on clinical placement at Auckland City Hospital
2000 - to present	Neonatal nutrition, Neonatal Nursing Students Course, Auckland City Hospital
2002 - to present	Neonatal nutrition, Massey University, Neonatal Science and Clinical Care of the Neonate 2 paper, Auckland
2002 - to present	Neonatal nutrition, Neonatal Requirements and Supplements, Regular in-service education lectures, Paediatric registrars, Auckland City Hospital
2002 - to present	Neonatal nutrition, Regular in-service education lectures, Neonatal nurses, Auckland City Hospital
2002 - to present	Paediatric cardiology and nutrition, Regular inservice education lectures, Paediatric nurses, Starship Children’s Health Auckland City Hospital
2008 - to present	Nutrition for Infants and Children with Congenital Heart Disease, Post Graduate Nurses 730 Cardiac Specialty Paper, School of Nursing, Auckland University
2008 - to present	Post-surgical chylothorax, Post Graduate Nurses 730 Cardiac Specialty Paper, School of Nursing, Auckland University

 

Postgraduate supervision

Supervision of Masters and Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics Students, Otago University and Massey University

Feeding Practices and Growth of Preterm Infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Auckland City Hospital until Twelve Months Corrected Age, Jennifer Vitali 2014

Vitamin D Status of Preterm Infants at 4 Months Post Hospital Discharge, Briar Emmett, 2013

Iron Status of Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge, Charlotte Moor, 2013

A case controlled study of the perinatal outcomes following hyperemesis gravidarum, Robyn Coetzee, 2009

The Development of a Nutrition Screening Tool for Lactating Mothers of Preterm Infants, Lisa Clark, 2006

Development of “Eating for a healthy heart” nutrition education resource for Green Lane Hospital cardiology patients, Anna Cheyne, 2001

Distinctions/Honours

2013    Allied Health Award – Research Award, Auckland District Health Board

2012    Award of Excellence – Dietitians New Zealand

Responsibilities

Clinical Lead - Paediatrics Dietitians

Starship Child Health

ProVIDe Study Coordinator

Areas of expertise

Neonatal nutrition

Committees/Professional groups/Services

 

2006 - 2013	New Zealand Dietitians Board Member Dietitian Prescribing Project - Convenor Registration and Assessment Subcommittee Education and Accreditation Subcommittee Continuing Competence Subcommittee
2007 - 2009	Review Committee Member - Registration Competency Requirements for Dietitians
2009 - 2012	Convenor - Working Group on Application for Prescribing Rights for NZ Dietitians
2006 - present	Nutricia Paediatric Advisory Board Australasia - Member
2007 - present	Nestle Nutrition Institute Paediatric Advisory Board Oceania - Member
2006	Organiser - Two day Paediatric Nutrition Course for Dietitians, Auckland
2004	Organiser - Paediatric Nutrition Study Day for Dietitians, Auckland
1991-1993	Examiner - NZ Dietitians Registration Exam
2001 - present	Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand member
2000 - present	Dietitians NZ Paediatric Special Interest Group member
2000 - present	Auckland Paediatric Dietitians Group member
2000 - 2001	Dietitians NZ Professional Development Sub-committee member
1990 - 1993	Convenor, Dietitians NZ Position Paper Sub-committee
1990 - 1992	Dietitians NZ Industrial Relations Sub-committee member
1988 - present	Dietitians NZ - National and Auckland Branch member