Assoc Prof Andre Renzaho - Researcher Profile

Biography

A/Prof Andre Renzaho is the director of the Migration, Social Disadvantage, and Health Programs, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University. Prior to this appointment he was a Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University in the School of Health and Social Development (2007-2011) and worked as Program Quality Advisor with World Vision Australia (2003-2006). He is recognised for his expertise in refugee and migrants’ health. He has worked with United Nations agencies and non-government organisations, covering sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the pacific (Australia) and Asia.  His area of expertise include acculturation, migration and health outcomes, obesity prevention among migrants, cultural competence in health care and research, prevention of chronic diseases among ethnic minorities, and vitamin D deficiency.  He has published extensively in these areas including three authoritative books, 12 book chapters, more than 50 peer reviewed articles, 22 major commissioned reports or monographs and 18 national and international conference papers/presentations. He has been sitting on a number of national and international expert Panel committees and reference groups as well as being a member on editorial advisory boards of four international journals.

In 2008 he was appointed as a member of the Dental Practice Board of Victoria (Ministerial appointment) and Deakin University Faculty Equity and Diversity Committee. He has an outstanding track record in translating research into policy formulation and implementation. Since 2006, he has received more than $4.5 million in research grants. His work  has won a number of wards and been recently recognised and profiled internationally in Marquis Who’s Who in the World (NJ, USA 2008) for demonstrating outstanding individual achievements in his field of research and significant contributions to the betterment of contemporary society. In 2011, he received an ARC Future Fellowship as well as a Heart Foundation CDA (relinquished). He is a respected and passionate African migrant community leader, with high integrity and standing in the community. He is the founding chair of the African Association of French and Portuguese Speaking Background of Australia (2000-2004), and the African Migrant Review Panel (2002-present), and the founder and executive director of the African Leadership, Learning and Advocacy Group Inc.

 His current research includes projects on the following:

1.       Vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes and mental health outcomes among dark-skinned populations

2.       Blood donation and social inclusion among African migrants

3.       Acculturation measurement and its impact on health outcomes (emphasis on obesity-related diseases)

4.       Intergenerational acculturation gap: emphasis on differences in body size perceptions, health knowledge gap, and parenting-related intergenerational conflicts

5.       Health Literacy and obesity prevention strategies prioritisation 

6.       Integration for Arabic migrants: Impact on physical and mental health (Iraqi, Lebanese, Iranians, and Afghanis)

7.       Food security in cultural pluralism (including the food insecurity and HIV/AIDS vicious cycle)

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Institution: Deakin University

Year awarded: 2005

PUBLIC HEALTH

Institution: The Universtiy Of Melbourne

Year awarded: 2000