Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos, Director DHE
Cathy will leave Deakin early next year after 15 years at the University. She is one of the original members of Deakin Health Economics (DHE) under Prof Rob Carter’s leadership, and was appointed as Director in 2019. As DHE Chair and Director, Cathy has led one of Australia’s largest teams of health economists, been an active member of the Institute’s Executive from the beginning and an active member of the School of Health and Social Development’s Executive. As a passionate teacher, she was a major voice in the vision and development of Deakin’s successful Master of Health Economics. Cathy’s own research is in the economics of mental health care, particularly in the use of economic evaluation methodologies to inform decision-making for mental health interventions and services. She has built many strong and ongoing research collaborations within Deakin, and with national and international research partners and been highly successful in obtaining competitive research grants.
Alfred Deakin Professor Marj Moodie, Co-Deputy Director DHE
After many years of outstanding contributions to health economics, Marj is retiring and will add Emeritus Professor to her impressive list of titles. She joined Deakin in 2007, along with fellow DHE founders Emeritus Professor Rob Carter and current DHE director Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos and has been an integral part of DHE’s success as one of the largest academic teams of health economists in Australia. Marj is an internationally recognised leader in the economics of obesity prevention, and coordinated Deakin’s first NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (2012-2018) – in Obesity Policy and Food Systems. Prior to embarking on her distinguished career in health economics, Marj came from a background in teaching and urban planning before starting a Masters of Public Health that she then converted into a Doctorate (completed in 2004). In recognition of her amazing accomplishments in health economics, Marj was awarded the esteemed Alfred Deakin Professor title in 2018 and a Member of the Order of Australia, for services to health economics and education in 2020. You can read more about Marj’s career in the latest DHE newsletter.
Associate Professor Martin Hensher, Co-Deputy Director DHE
Martin leaves us to return to his adopted state of Tasmania and a position as Professor of Health System Sustainability at the University of Tasmania. In the three years Martin has been a member of IHT he has been integral to collaborative grants between DHE and other members of IHT, as well as leading and winning strategically important Cat 2-4 projects. His work with the DHEAL team in developing a framework for the evaluation of health apps allowed DHE and the Institute to make a real contribution to understanding some of the many COVID-19 apps that appeared in 2020. He and his team investigated the likely impacts of Long COVID and the health system response, filling an important gap in this fast moving and under-researched area. Martin also played a role in establishing the new Deakin Sustainable Health Network, helping Deakin to become a leader in this critical space.
Professor Sharon Brennan-Olsen, Associate Head of School (Research), Leader of IHT Social Inclusion research team
Sharon joined the School of Health and Social Development and the Institute in April 2020 as Professor, Social Inclusion and accepted the role of Associate Head of School Research in July 2020. She brought with her a passion for research and a strong research profile in socioeconomic and psychosocial predictors on disease outcomes, particularly osteoporosis. Sharon has continued her strong research track record, with success in three Cat 1 grants, developed wide-reaching initiatives and quickly established herself as an extremely professional, well-respected and important leader for the School and Institute. In addition to her own success in research, Sharon has been instrumental in mentoring and supporting many emerging researchers, who have in turn enjoyed their own research success. In a short period of time Sharon has certainly made her mark on the School and IHT.
