Sandra Eades facts for kids

Sandra Eades, born in 1967, is a very important Noongar doctor, researcher, and professor. She made history as the first Aboriginal medical doctor to earn a special advanced degree called a Doctorate of Philosophy in 2003. As of March 2020, she became the Dean of Medicine at Curtin University.

Early Life and Education

Sandra Eades was born in Mount Barker, Western Australia. When she was 12 years old, her family moved to Perth. In primary school, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, she worried that she might not get the chance because she was an Aboriginal girl.

In 1985, at age 17, Sandra went to the University of Newcastle. She was one of only four Aboriginal students chosen for a special program to study medicine. She later earned her PhD from the University of Western Australia in 2003.

Career as a Doctor and Researcher

After finishing medical school, Dr. Eades worked in public hospitals. She also spent seven years as a general practitioner with the Aboriginal Medical Service. This service helps provide healthcare to Aboriginal people.

Researching Child Health

Dr. Eades began her research career by studying the health of Indigenous children in Australia. She worked at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. Her first big research chance came from Fiona Stanley, who was named Australian of the Year in 2003. Dr. Eades looked into the causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in Aboriginal babies in Western Australia.

She is known for finding connections between social factors and infant health. For example, she showed how things like housing can affect how healthy babies are.

Leadership in Indigenous Health

Dr. Eades became the Head of Indigenous Maternal and Child Health. She was also the Associate Head of Preventative Health Research at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. During this time, she received many grants to support her research in Indigenous health studies.

From 2004 to 2008, she was a senior research fellow at The Sax Institute in Sydney. She also taught as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney from 2012 to 2013. In 2008, she moved to Melbourne and joined the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. By 2018, she became the Associate Dean Indigenous at the University of Melbourne.

In March 2020, Dr. Eades was appointed Dean of the Curtin Medical School. This is a very important leadership role in medical education.

Awards and Honours

Dr. Eades's work has greatly improved the lives of Aboriginal women and children. She has focused on the health of babies and mothers.

• 2005: She won a Deadly award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. She dedicated this award to her three-year-old child.
• 2006: She was named NSW Woman of the Year. Frank Sartor, the Minister for Science and Medical Research, nominated her for this honour.
• 2014: She was chosen as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS).
• 2015: She was the very first winner of the Lowitja Institute Cranlana Award.
• 2020: She was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA).
• 2022: She received the Officer of the Order of Australia award. This was for her "distinguished service to medical research, to Indigenous health, and to professional organisations."
• 2023: She was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).