Associate Professor Jo-An Atkinson
Associate Professor Jo-An Atkinson is Head of Systems Modeling and Simulation at the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, and Managing Director of Computer Simulation & Advanced Research Technologies (CSART) Ltd.
Associate Professor Atkinson has more than 20 years’ experience in health service delivery and clinical research in Australia, as well as in public health operational research to inform strategy for disease control and elimination in the Asia-Pacific region. This experience has included the use of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methodologies.
She works with transdisciplinary teams at the intersection of systems science, data science and health sciences to improve the health and wellbeing of populations, developing interactive decision support tools (systems modelling).
Associate Professor Atkinson’s research interests have included exploring human behavioural and system-level influences on intervention effectiveness; exploring acceptability of new and existing technologies for disease prevention; and the design of strategies for community engagement in prevention initiatives.
Current
- Dynamic simulation modelling to support investment decisions across the common risk factors for lifestyle-related chronic disease
- Harnessing big data and dynamic simulation modelling to tackle child and adolescent overweight and obesity and unsustainable healthcare expenditure in Australia
Completed
- Simulation modelling of alcohol consumption and the effectiveness of harm-reduction policies
- Gestational diabetes through a systems science lens
- Simulation modelling for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in NSW
- Simulation modelling to inform strategic planning for achieving the NSW Premier’s Priority for childhood overweight and obesity
- Harnessing big data and dynamic simulation modelling to tackle child and adolescent overweight and obesity and unsustainable healthcare expenditure in Australia
News
- Four projects take the Prevention Centre into its new phase
- Can the NSW Premier’s Priority on childhood obesity be met? Dynamic simulation modelling shows how
- Dynamic simulation modelling sheds light on effective alcohol harm reduction approaches
- Experts meet to map complex factors in childhood obesity
- Hands-on modelling workshop tackles complexity of alcohol misuse
Impact case studies
- Building a local workforce of dynamic modellers
- PhD project builds network to tackle diabetes in pregnancy
- Informing the NSW Premier’s Priority on childhood overweight and obesity
Blog
In a nutshell
Describe your role in one or two sentences: I’m playing a lead role in making readily available what is known about prevention, through scans, reviews of research and program experience and consensus statements. I’m also developing new ways to systematically capture and analyse practice knowledge and to synthesise evidence from many sources.
I wanted to work for the Prevention Centre because… it is an exciting, innovative and worthwhile endeavour. My role combines my interests in disease prevention, systems approaches, evidence-informed policy, and developing new methods for evidence synthesis.
The best part of my role is… the opportunity to push the boundaries of orthodox approaches to research and policy making for complex public health problems. I also enjoy collaborating with colleagues and partners who have diverse expertise.
The most challenging part is… working out how best to explain the Prevention Centre’s work to different audiences.
At work I am always learning that … change takes time and persistence.
Before the Prevention Centre, my most memorable work was … community engagement and research to prevent infectious disease in post-conflict nations such as Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.
Most people don’t know that I … have Sicilian heritage.
When I’m not at work I most enjoy … cooking old Sicilian recipes, entertaining, playing Briscola (an Italian card game), single malts and conversation in front of a log fire on a cold evening, and coffee and papers on a Sunday morning.
I try to stay healthy by … walking to work every day.
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