Dr Fitzgerald obtained her PhD from the Department of Physiology, Monash University in 1998. She then undertook a highly productive postdoctoral position at the prestigious Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Centre, where Drs Guyton and Hall wrote the andlsquo;Textbook of Medical Physiology'. In 2001 she moved to Sweden to undertake a second postdoctoral position in the Department of Physiology, Gothenburg University. She returned to the Department of Physiology, Monash University in 2003 to establish her own research program investigating the role of nitric oxide in blood pressure regulation in a diabetic mouse model.

In a change of research field in 2007 Dr Fitzgerald moved to the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute to undertake studies in population health, specifically in secondary stroke prevention. To complement her change of research direction she also completed a Masters in Public Health. In 2010 she rejoined Monash University with a change of departments to become a member of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. In her role as Regional Manager Dr Fitzgerald coordinates the development and implementation of regional clinical trial sites across Victoria. These sites will be initially utilised to support the large-scale community based study - ASPREE. The ASPREE clinical trial (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) is the largest primary prevention trial to be undertaken in Australia. Dr Fitzgerald is responsible for managing, the six Victorian, one Canberra and three Tasmanian regional ASPREE sites.

Dr Fitzgerald's specific areas of interest include: healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, careers in science. Dr Fitzgerald is a firm believer in healthy living for a long and active life. andlsquo;I have a strong family history of diabetes and I know how important it is for me to stay healthy and active to prevent the onset of this debilitating disease'. To date she has completed 9 marathons (including North and South Pole Marathons), 8 long distance cycling events (120-210km), walked the Kokoda Track and climbed Mt Kota Kinabalu.