Professor Catherine Dean holds the current position of Deputy Dean, Education and Employability in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. She originally qualified and worked as a physiotherapist and currently has a full-time academic appointment with teaching, research and administrative responsibilities.
In 2011 Professor Dean moved to Macquarie University in a key appointment for the University’s expansion in health and medicine. She was appointed the inaugural Head of the Department of Health Professions and has established NSW’s first professional entry Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) degree.
Her educational leadership has been recognised locally with the Vice-Chancellor's Educational leader award in 2019, nationally with an AAUT citation and internationally with award of a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Professor Dean is also an internationally recognised researcher in developing and testing of rehabilitation strategies to increase activity and participation and prevent falls after stroke.