Melbourne global health and disease expert wins major award

11 November 2014

Laureate Professor Alan Lopez, Director, Global Burden of Disease Group, University of Melbourne has received the prestigious Peter Wills Medal at The Research Australia Awards.

University of Melbourne Public Health School
Study population health at Melbourne

Now in its 12th year, the Research Australia Awards recognise individuals who have continuously contributed to, and advocated for, the health and medical research sector in Australia.
A global health and disease expert, Professor Lopez has a distinguished career as a researcher, author and as a generous collaborator who has greatly influenced debates about priority setting and resource allocation in health.
Professor Lopez is known for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, which he co-founded with Prof Christopher Murray in 1990. The GBD is an ongoing effort involving more than 1,000 collaborators worldwide to quantify the impact, and measure the comparative importance of over 300 diseases and injuries, and 67 risk factors worldwide.
These methods have been adopted by over 50 countries, including Australia.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Stephen Smith said Professor Lopez is a highly cited author whose publications have received worldwide acclaim for their importance and influence in health and medical research.
“Professor Lopez’ scientific contributions have focused around strengthening the evidence base for health policy. His work has helped us understand the major causes of death and disability in populations and how they are changing,” said Professor Smith.
“He has been awarded major research grants in epidemiology, health services research and population health, including funding from the NHMRC, Wellcome Trust, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and AusAID, “ he said.

Public Health at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health 

The Melbourne School of Population and Global Health aims to strengthen the understanding, capacity and services of society to meet population health needs and to improve the quality and equity of health care. The population health approach recognizes that health is a capacity or resource rather than a state, a definition which corresponds more to the notion of being able to pursue one’s goals, to acquire skills and education, and to grow. This broader notion of health recognizes the range of social, economic and physical environmental factors that contribute to health (Public Health Agency of Canada).
Program: Master of Public Health
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Semester intake: February/March
Duration: 1.5 – 2 years (depending on background of candidate)
Application deadline: While there is no set application deadline for this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications a minimum of three months prior to the program’s start date.

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Learn more about the Master of Public Health at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Public Health Schools Admissions Officer Rachel Brady by emailing rachel@oztrekk.com or call 1866-698-7355. Find out how you can study in Australia!

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