Biography and expertise
Biography
Dr Nnamdi Mgbemena is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Physiotherapy at Southern Cross University. He has over a decade of clinical experience across Nigeria and Australia, with a particular focus on cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. Nnamdi is also licensed as an Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) Titled Research Physiotherapist and is a member of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
Nnamdi's work contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals
Research
Nnamdi's research interests are in the areas of prehabilitation in cardiorespiratory population, functional recovery following cardiorespiratory surgery, including Phase III cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and the impact of chronic disease and mental health outcomes. He has published in leading physiotherapy and allied health journals and has presented his research at both national and international conferences.
Community engagement
Nnamdi serves as a committee member of the APA Cardiorespiratory Group, NSW, where he collaborates with fellow committee members to coordinate and deliver professional development and research activities for cardiorespiratory physiotherapists across NSW. He is also a member of a project working group with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), contributing to initiatives focused on overseas-trained health professionals.
Supervision
Nnamdi is currently accepting Honours, Masters by Research, and PhD students with an interest in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and related clinical research areas.
Teaching
Nnamdi commenced his academic career in 2018 as a casual academic in the Discipline of Physiotherapy at James Cook University, Townsville, where he contributed to teaching across allied health (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy) and public health subjects. He subsequently worked as a Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University (2023 - 2025), where he taught into the acute care subject, coordinated a second-year subject and contributed to curriculum development initiatives within the discipline.