Profiles And Contributions To This Article
Diagnostic delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Sarawak, Malaysia: a cross-sectional study
qualifications: MNsg
contribution: designed the project, devised survey tool, literature review, supervised data collection, input data, statistical analysis, wrote the first draft
position: Lecturer
Malaysia
Health of the rural communities, obesity (public health aspect) and tuberculosis. Focus groups
qualifications: PhD
position: Professor, Foundation Chair of Biostatistics
I am an epidemiologist and biostatistician with more than 40 years’ experience spanning public health surveillance, clinical trials, health-services research and international health. I am Chair and Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Adelaide University, having previously held the Chair for two decades at the University of South Australia and adjunct professorial appointments at Flinders University and James Cook University. I have authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, including extensive work in infectious diseases, dementia, chronic disease, refugee health, Indigenous health, clinical epidemiology and implementation science, with a Google Scholar h-index of 80. I am ranked in the top 0.21% of scholars worldwide by ScholarGPS and in the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University. I currently serve as a Chief Investigator on multiple NHMRC, MRFF and ARC-funded projects, including large multidisciplinary clinical and implementation trials in chronic pain, asthma, dementia, refugee health and primary care reform, with individual grants exceeding $2.6 million. My career includes senior roles with the World Health Organization in Geneva and Copenhagen, Principal Epidemiologist for the South Australian Health Commission. I am a Fellow and Life Member of the Australasian Epidemiological Association and have served in multiple national leadership roles, including Vice-President of the Association and Chair of a national conference organising committee. I have supervised more than 30 PhD completions as principal supervisor and co-supervisor across medicine, public health, nursing and allied health, with numerous student awards for thesis excellence and supervision quality. I am a strong advocate for public engagement in science. I have written more than 40 articles for The Conversation, attracting over 3 million reads, and have been repeatedly recognised as a top media performer by my university. I can be found on Bluesky at @profesterman.bsky.social I am also the author of Supervising Doctoral Students: A Practical Guide for Supervisors and Candidates, reflecting decades of experience mentoring higher-degree research students across the biomedical and health sciences.
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