27 March 2015
University of South Australia Professor of Population Health and Chair in Aboriginal Health Professor Alex Brown has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS).
A world-recognised leader in Indigenous health, Prof Brown’s induction into the AAHMS recognises his extensive work and distinguished professional skills in Indigenous health research in rural and remote communities.
Prof Brown has spent many years researching chronic conditions which are the biggest contributor to the 10-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Head of the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Prof Brown is currently leading a major National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded research project investigating the diabetes epidemic taking place in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
Chronic disease like diabetes is a fundamental health challenge, with up to 30 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people having Type 2 diabetes. In many communities more than half of all adults over the age of 50 are affected.
Prof Brown has championed improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a moral, ethical and cultural obligation, having often stated here needs to be greater emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd congratulated Prof Brown on his Fellowship.
“I’m pleased Alex has been recognised for his exceptional professional achievements through this award,” Prof Lloyd says.
“If we are to close the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, the need for comprehensive research of the calibre undertaken by Alex and his colleagues about the health of Indigenous people is more important than ever.”
The newly launched AAHMS aims to promote health and medical research and its translation to enable a healthy community in Australia and the world.
Prof Brown is one of three UniSA researchers to be named as AAHMS Fellows this week, along with Profs Angel Lopez and Sharad Kumar from the Centre for Cancer Biology.
Media contact: Kelly Stone office 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email Kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
