Medical Foundation program to build capacity for health and sustainability in Pacific Island Countries

The Health and Sustainability Unit (HSU), Menzies Centre for Health Policy welcomes Ms Jeanie McKenzie to the newly created position of Senior Research Fellow in Health & Sustainability. For the last four years, Jeanie has been the Drug and Alcohol Advisor for the Secretariat of Pacific Community and has a strong public health track record including with NSW Health and the NSW Cancer Council and Heart Foundation.

The position of Senior Research Fellow - Health and Sustainability was established under a Medical Foundation Grant awarded earlier this year to the Director of HSU, Associate Professor Ruth Colagiuri, to develop a program of work based on an environmental approach to chronic disease prevention – notably diabetes and cardiovascular disease - in Pacific Island countries. The program will centre on the synergies between the development of modifiable chronic disease risks and unhealthy urbanisation, food trade, production and security, and energy use and how these might best be mitigated within the context of small developing island states.

It is envisaged that this program of work will foster student exchanges between the SMS and SPH and Pacific Island Ministries of Health and will draw on existing expertise within SMS and across other faculties to co-apply for and conduct research projects.