Public Health Seminar Series

The School of Population Health Seminar Series offers an opportunity for staff, students and others with an interest in public health research to learn more about the research and related activity of the School. Seminars are held most Wednesdays between 12pm and 1pm and are available online through Microsoft Teams. If you would like more information about the Seminar Series, or if you have suggestions regarding speakers and or topics (including your own) please contact Michele Rains-Joseph. Upcoming seminars may be found at Events.

Watch seminar videos

A Critical Examination of Gender-Based Violence and its Mental Health Impacts

A/Prof Susan Rees, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney and Ruth Wells, Research Fellow, Trauma and Mental Health Unit, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney, and Clinical Psychology Registrar

The evidence is unequivocal that gender-based violence (GBV) (including domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault) is a major public health issue. GBV is indeed a preventable public health issue, and yet gender inequality, the most cited foundation for GBV, remains the last bastion of change. In this presentation we reflect on research evidence and dissect key issues of importance to GBV prevention and intervention principles. We focus on notions of empowerment, silencing, coercive control, power and patriarchy and men’s trauma and the perpetration of violence. . <Download flyer> (Presented: 22 July, 2020)

Should we exercise or not? Effects of Covid-19 on muscles, bones and our immunity

Dr Naj Soomro - Medical Officer Bunbury Hospital, Adjunct Lecturer Faculty of Medicine USyd, Pakistan Men’s International Cricket Team Australian Team Doctor

As our understanding of Covid-19 is evolving, we are able to unravel some of its effects on the musculoskeletal system which may have implications on exercise, strength & conditioning, sports specific training and immunity. This talk sheds light on some of the evolving evidence and practical implications for health care practitioners. <Download flyer> (Presented: 16 July, 2020)

Digital Health Profiling and Maturity Assessment in the Pacific Islands

Professor Siaw-Teng Liaw - Director, UNSW WHO Collaborating Centre on eHealth and Dr Sameera Ansari - Post-Doctoral Research Associate, UNSW Sydney

A Digital Health Profile and Maturity Assessment Toolkit (DHPMAT) was co-created by the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and UNSW WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth to facilitate informed discussion about maturity of the essential digital health foundations - ICT infrastructure, enablers of digital health adoption, essential digital health tools, information sharing and quality improvement. This is needed to harness digital technology to strengthen national health systems and address countries’ health priorities. <Download flyer> (Presented: 8 July, 2020)

Examples of assessment of effectiveness of preventive population interventions using available data

Prof Richard Taylor, Professor of Public and International Health, UNSW SPHCM

This presentation consists of examples of published evaluations of prevention and control activities, including mention of on-going initiatives. <Download flyer> (Presented: 1 July, 2020)

Snakebite: a neglected global health challenge

Dr Soumyadeep Bhaumik is a medical doctor and international public health specialist working as a Research Fellow in the George Institute of Global Health India

In 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) identified snakebite as a Neglected Tropical Disease. Following this, in 2019 WHO developed a strategy to decrease burden of snakebite to 50% by 2030. The talk focusses on key issues on snakebite as a global health problem. This is followed by findings from evaluation of WHO guidelines, and the evidence base around it (through overview of systematic reviews). <Download flyer> (Presented: 24 June, 2020)

COVID-19 is rapidly changing: Examining public perceptions and behaviors in response to this evolving pandemic

Dr Holly Seale, Senior Lecturer and Director of Bachelor of International Public Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Sydney

In the course of four months, since the first reports about a novel strain of coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerging in December 2019, countries around the world have introduced a range of community mitigation strategies with the aim to lower the trajectory of this pandemic by reducing transmission, and avoid overwhelming health services. <Download flyer> (Presented: 17 June, 2020)

Decades of Translational Public Health Research among Smokers

Prof Robyn Richmond, Professor of Public Health, UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine

In her presentation Robyn discusses characteristics of her research including: building research themes and teams that endure for decades, carrying out multiple assessments in studies, and expanding her focus on reducing tobacco use, to include other high risk lifestyle behaviours such as modifying risky alcohol use, improving physical inactivity and poor nutrition. <Download flyer> (Presented: 10 June, 2020)

COVID-19 and Smoking – Prevention, outcomes and care

Presenter - A/Prof Freddy Sitas, Director Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, SPHCM UNSW; A/Prof Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney; Burden of Disease Research Unit, MRC South Africa

In a rapidly evolving field, A/Prof Freddy Sitas summarises what we currently know about COVID-19 and smoking, what we can infer from analogy and from common sense. He then discusses working hypotheses moving forward and actionable suggestions on messaging for prevention, clinical risks and post hospital care. <Download flyer> (Presented: 27 May, 2020)

Greener Cities and Healthier Lives

Presenter - Associate Professor Xiaoqi Feng, NHMRC Career Development Fellow UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Adjunct Professor National Institute of Environmental Health China CDC

A/Prof Feng’s talk summarises a recent reconceptualization of the domain pathways that link urban green space and health to which she contributed as a member of an international team. She outlines some of her key findings in studies of green space quantity, quality and type using Australian data, before going on to suggest potential avenues for new research projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. <Download flyer> (Presented: 20 May, 2020)

COVID-19: Looking into the crystal ball and anticipating what might come next

Panel Experts: Dr Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, A/Prof David Heslop, Telphia Joseph, Prof Mary-Louise McLaws, Dr Holly Seale, A/Prof James Wood, SPHCM

Has physical distancing worked? Will a vaccine come any time soon? Will life ever return to what it used to be? Since the identification of COVID-19 in December 2019, life as we knew it has changed dramatically. Join the School as their infectious disease intelligence expert panel answer these questions and stare into the crystal ball to understand what may be ahead. (Presented: 8 May, 2020)

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