Rhiannon Matheson-Peut

Current role

Accredited Clinical Exercise Physiologist: Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation with Queensland Health

Previous rotations

Exercise Physiologist with Mobile Rehab

What does your job involve?

I run the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Heart Failure Service at Gladstone Hospital. I organise various clinics, conduct one-on-one assessments and implement exercise interventions for those patients who have had an acute cardiac or pulmonary event or newly diagnosed with heart failure. My role encompasses a mix of clinical and administration work and excellent leadership opportunities to mentor final year EP and nursing students within our rehab clinic. I work both within the inpatient setting providing education and the outpatient setting.

What do you love most about your job?

I love the variety that a hospital setting provides; being able to move between the patients on the wards and my outpatient clinics. It is very rewarding to assist a patient in getting back on their feet after an acute event and help them achieve their goals, no matter how big or small. Working in a smaller hospitals means all departments are known to each other and I have close relationships with the other allied health professions as well as doctors and nurses from various wards.

What was your motivation to become an Accredited Exercise Physiologist?

I had always had a keen interest in cardiac rehabilitation as I believe it is an area an EP can have a big impact in. Not only do we provide exercise to assist the heart health, but also the imperative education a patient needs to their overall health and well-being and improve their quality of life.

What were the highlights of studying clinical exercise physiology at UQ?

The friends I made within my degree and the opportunities that UQ provided me as a student.

Learn more about the Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours) program