UTS Health Economist and Director of the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, Professor Jane Hall, wins inaugural HSRAANZ Professional Award

4/12/2011 11:09:58 PM

Professor Jane Hall was presented with the inaugural Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand’s Professional Award at the Association’s 7th Health Services and Policy Research Conference Dinner in Adelaide on 6 December.

The Award, which this year was sponsored by the University of South Australia, is made to a health services researcher who has:

• initiated a strong research agenda;
• made an ongoing contribution to the profession of health services research over many years;
• mentored other researchers and contributed to a supportive research environment. 
• established a body of research as evidenced by research publications.

Professor Robyn McDermott, Foundation Director of the State-wide Data Linkage Unit, SA/NT Datalink who presented the Award congratulated Professor Hall on her outstanding achievement and enormous contribution to health services research over last 20 years.

Dr Terri Green who chaired the Award sub-committee said “A number of fine researchers were nominated.  And in reviewing the nominations it was heartening to see the good work going on in Australia and New Zealand.  We sincerely hope that some of these individuals will be nominated again in future years.  This year however there was one clear winner.  Jane has founded and led an internationally recognised centre in health economics and health services research for the past twenty years, demonstrating her vision and leadership in promoting the contribution that these fields can make to population health and to the outcomes of the health care system. While the focus of her research has always been on health economics, an outstanding characteristic has been its interdisciplinary nature and wide range of research topics. Her overall research agenda is best summarized as understanding the behaviour of individual decision-makers within the health system, and the consequences of this for the evaluation of health policy.”

“The sustained success of CHERE under Jane’s leadership, growing from a few researchers at Westmead Hospital in 1990 to an active research centre with a multi-million dollar budget each year, a research agenda crossing the breadth of health economics from health technology assessment to applied micro-econometrics and policy evaluation, and with a broad portfolio of peer-reviewed and commissioned projects each year demonstrates the extent to which she has developed and continues to contribute to a supportive research environment.”

“Jane’s commitment to mentoring other researchers is best demonstrated by the approach at CHERE to staff development which has a strong structure and culture of career planning for staff and perhaps the strongest indicator of her success in mentoring staff is the number of economists who had early career opportunities at CHERE who are now in professorial positions in Australia and internationally.”

Terri commented that “Jane has been the inspiration behind the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand, now celebrating its 10^th Anniversary and was the inaugural President until 2007.  She has worked tirelessly on the Executive Committee since the organisation’s inception as well as on numerous Conference Organising and Scientific Committees, since organising the 1^st Health Services & Policy Research Conference in Sydney in 1999.  Jane has also built an outstanding international reputation, through research contribution and policy analysis. She is the immediate past President of International Health Economics Association, and her election was a mark of her international reputation.”

Terri concluded that the award acknowledged Jane’s role as a strong and enduring advocate for the role of and contribution of health services research, in finding ways for health services research to be funded and in convincing decision makers at all levels of the health system of its value. “The association is pleased to acknowledge her contribution and is grateful for sponsorship from the University of South Australia.”

Please read further information regarding the award.

For further information please contact Sarah Green (02 9514 4723) sarah.green@chere.uts.edu.au and /or Terri Green (00 64 33642987 ext7013)     terri.green@canterbury.ac.nz