Sandra Eades AO FASSA FAHMS FTSE (born 1967) is a Noongar physician, researcher and professor, and the first Aboriginal medical practitioner to be awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy in 2003.[1] As of March 2020 she is Dean of Medicine at Curtin University.
Sandra Eades | |
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Born | Mount Barker, Western Australia |
Nationality | Aboriginal |
Occupation(s) | Physician, professor, researcher |
Known for | 2006 NSW Woman of the Year |
Sandra Eades was born in Mount Barker, Western Australia and at the age of 12 moved to Perth with her family.[2] In primary school she wanted to be a doctor but thought she would not have that opportunity as an Aboriginal girl.[2] In 1985, at the age of 17, she arrived at University of Newcastle as one of four Aboriginal students selected for a special program to study medicine.[2] She graduated from the University of Western Australia with a PhD in 2003.[3]
Eades worked in the public hospital system after graduating from medical school, and was a general practitioner with the Aboriginal Medical Service for seven years.[2] She began her career researching the epidemiology of Indigenous child health in Australia at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.[1] Her first research opportunity into causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in Aboriginal infants in Western Australia, was introduced to her by 2003 Australian of the Year, Fiona Stanley.[2] She has been recognised for "identifying links between social factors such as housing and infant health".[4]
As Head of Indigenous Maternal and Child Health, and Associate Head of Preventative Health Research at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute,[1] Eades won a number of grants for research in Indigenous health studies.[5] She was senior research fellow at The Sax Institute in Sydney from 2004 to 2008,[2][6] and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney from 2012 to 2013.[7] Moving to Melbourne in mid-2008 she joined the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and in 2018 she became Associate Dean Indigenous at the University of Melbourne.[8]
Eades was appointed Dean of the Curtin Medical School in March 2020.[9]
Eades's work in pediatric and perinatal epidemiology has improved the lives of Aboriginal women and children.[4]