Meet the research leader in population health

Associate Professor Peter Baghurst BAgSc BSc MSc PhD 

Associate Professor Baghurst is leader of the Population Health Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Adelaide. In addition, he is Head of the Public Health Research Unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital, a clinical epidemiology unit set up to provide data analysis for a wide range of research projects at the Hospital, and to undertake independent research relating to the safety and quality of Hospital services.

Associate Professor Baghurst is interested in the factors that determine the utilisation of health services by children and their families, and the epidemiology of children's health problems, with particular emphasis on asthma, nutrition, diabetes, birth defects and mental health. In 2009 he was the recipient of the prestigious Basil Hetzel Leadership in Public Health Award for his significant leadership contribution to public health research and for his courage in maintaining the principles of public health in South Australia.

Associate Professor Baghurst has contributed key papers on diabetes, adolescent mental health, the quality of life of mothers caring for preterm infants, and the effect of environmental lead exposure on cognitive development in children. Currently he is continuing his research on the impact of lead pollution on the cognitive and behavioural development of children living in Broken Hill and Port Pirie, and is also part of a research team set up to compare the health outcomes of babies born in hospitals across Australia and New Zealand.

Contact Associate Professor Peter Baghurst