Dr Wei-Ju Chang MACP’s entry into tertiary education was not initially driven by a desire to work in healthcare. 

His first year of university in his native Taiwan was spent studying forestry, a choice determined more by entrance exam scores than by a personal passion for it.

‘It just happened that I was allocated to forestry as a result of my entry exam score. I only studied it for a year. 

'I didn’t dislike it but I didn’t feel passionate about it either. I couldn’t picture working in forestry for the rest of my life.’

Everything changed when he had a chance meeting with a second-year physiotherapy student, who opened his eyes to the possibilities of another discipline. 

After Wei-Ju applied to transfer into physiotherapy, the university required him to shadow a physiotherapist working in the university hospital for a day to better understand the role. 

The experience cemented the decision for Wei-Ju and he hasn’t looked back since.

Despite missing the first year, Wei-Ju was determined to graduate after four years so he took summer classes and additional studies to catch up to the other students in his cohort. 

The extra effort paid off and Wei-Ju graduated along with everyone else in his year. 

He went on to work at a teaching hospital for five years, furthering his education through training courses offered by the Taiwan Physical Therapy Association and via peer learning while on rotation through the hospital’s departments. 

He honed his clinical reasoning and technical skills and had the opportunity to supervise physiotherapy students.

‘You started supervising students at a time when you were actually only a year of clinical experience ahead of them. 

'But I’m lucky— the department I worked in had a very strong clinical placement training system.’

Wei-Ju’s early career included developing skills not typically expected of physiotherapists in other countries. 

For example, there were no podiatrists in Taiwan, so he learned how to make orthotics by hand. 

Yet despite the rich clinical learning environment in Taiwan, Wei-Ju felt constrained by the limitations of the healthcare system, in which physiotherapists couldn’t see patients without a doctor’s referral. 

He began to consider postgraduate study overseas.

Australia’s reputation for clinical autonomy, combined with the pioneering manual therapy program at the University of South Australia, led Wei-Ju to Adelaide. 

There, under the influence of leaders such as author and APA Honorary Member Dr David Butler, he delved deeper into musculoskeletal and pain science.

In 2003, just a few months before Wei-Ju was planning to leave Taiwan to pursue his master’s degree in Australia, the SARS epidemic swept through Asia. 

Wei-Ju recalls how Taiwan grappled with the brief but intense coronavirus. 

Hospital staff had to wear PPE and those working in acute wards were even more cautious about their interactions with patients—much like the COVID-19 pandemic to come.

In Adelaide, Wei-Ju’s interest in the field of pain science intensified. During his study he was also exposed to Australia’s vibrant private practice sector. 

His transition into private practice brought new challenges and opportunities to test his knowledge and skills as a clinician. 

Over time, as he treated more patients, Wei-Ju became increasingly aware of the complexity behind musculoskeletal pain, particularly in injured workers. 

‘While some patients recover as expected, others show little improvement despite receiving treatments recommended by clinical guidelines. It became clear: a better understanding of pain is needed.’

A growing desire to better understand why some patients develop chronic pain drew Wei-Ju towards research. 

He began exploring options for a PhD study and eventually secured a scholarship through Western Sydney University, based in the region where he was already working clinically.

His PhD, supervised by Dr Siobhan Schabrun, focused on neuroplasticity and the transition from acute to chronic musculoskeletal pain. 

The research explored changes in brain activity during the early stages of low back pain and found that sensory and motor cortex activity could predict poorer outcomes six months later. 

‘When patients with low back pain have lower sensory and motor cortex activity in the acute stage, they are more likely to have that chronicity in six months’ time.’

Wei-Ju’s findings have opened the door for possible early interventions that target the brain to prevent chronic pain. 

His research suggests that identifying at-risk patients early could change their long-term trajectory. 

‘We think that tells us that targeting the brain has the potential to prevent some people with higher risk transitioning to chronic pain.’

Balancing clinical work with his PhD research was no small feat but Wei-Ju was determined to maintain the connection with his clinical practice, regarding it as vital to both his research and his identity. 

‘I feel strongly that being a clinician is my identity. I don’t want to lose it. Also, keeping in touch with patients reminds me of why I did this in the first place.’

Today, as a senior lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of New South Wales, Wei-Ju maintains a small clinical case load, treating patients on Saturdays. 

His teaching is grounded in his clinical work and his clinical insights help to inform his research and curriculum development. 

Wei-Ju is an APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and a member of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. He is considering specialisation through the College sometime in the future. 

In 2019, he was awarded a Physiotherapy Research Foundation Seeding Grant for a study investigating the relationship between brain changes and quadriceps weakness after total knee replacement—another project inspired directly by clinical observations.

A member of the APA since 2005, Wei-Ju values the professional connections and advocacy the organisation offers, particularly for clinician researchers. 

‘It provides a platform where you can exchange ideas—for example, at the conference, where we are able to get together to share research and clinical practice ideas and socialise with other clinicians, researchers and academics.’

Wei-Ju will be presenting at the APASC25 scientific conference in Adelaide in October. He continues to contribute to the profession as a clinician, researcher and educator. 

He has stayed true to the values that guided him from the very beginning: a love of learning, a desire to help people and
a willingness to explore the unknown. 

‘My goal is not only to succeed in the academic world, but ultimately to discover effective treatments for people who suffer from chronic pain.’

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