Motivated by the opportunity to work with patients and improve health outcomes, Dr William (Will) Wallefeld retrained from science to medicine.
Dr Wallefeld is a consultant neurologist at the Perron Institute clinic, Perth Neurology Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Hollywood Private Hospital.
He completed a PhD in Molecular Biology and Neurogenetics at The University of Western Australia and the Harry Perkins Institute in 2010.
“I was a research scientist in neurogenetics and molecular biology and decided I wanted to work more directly with patients,” Dr Wallefeld said.
He completed his medical degree in 2015 and later undertook part of his Neurology Advanced Training at the Perron Institute clinic between 2022 and 2023.
In 2025, Dr Wallefeld started a Neurogenetics Clinic at the Perron Institute to support patients with neuromuscular and neurogenetic diseases.
“The Perron Institute supports me in combining my research interests with clinical medicine, to try to improve health outcomes for people with neuromuscular disorders, including mitochondrial disease,” he said.
“One career highlight so far was spending a year doing a clinical research fellowship with Professor Carolyn Sue at NeuRA, where I focused on improving diagnosis and management of mitochondrial disease.”
Dr Wallefeld names Emeritus Professor Nigel Laing AO from the Harry Perkins Institute and Professor Phillipa Lamont from the Perkins and Royal Perth Hospital as his mentors.
“I also want to thank Professor Merrilee Needham (Perron Institute Consultant Neurologist and Medical Director), who has been a great teacher and mentor over the years. I am grateful to Sue Walters (Head of Clinics and Clinical Trials) and her team for managing such a busy and complex clinic, to Linh Le-Kavanagh (Clinical Research Coordinator), and to the clinicians and staff for their support.
“My advice for emerging clinicians and researchers is to collaborate. By sharing knowledge and expertise, you make things easier, get more done, and build friendships along the way.”
In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, reading non-medical literature and music.