R W Sanson-Fisher

Brief description

Research ExpertiseLaureate Professor Rob Sanson-Fisher BPsyc (Hons), MClinPsyc, PhD, D.Sc, AO has an outstanding global reputation as a leader in health behavioural research. His work is known for successfully combining behavioural and public health approaches to health promotion, health service evaluation and cancer control. He has published more than 540 peer reviewed research papers and 19 book chapters. Rob has obtained numerous research grants, from the NHMRC and other competitive funding agencies. His current research interests are in reducing the evidence practice gap, improving outcomes for people living with dementia and their support persons and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. His sustained contributions to improving the health of vulnerable population groups were recognised when he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2009. L/Prof Sanson-Fisher played a significant role in establishing the Behavioural Science Group in Relation to Medicine at the University of Newcastle. He was the inaugural director of the Hunter Centre for Health Advancement and the New South Wales Cancer Education Research Program. He was also the inaugural director of the National Cancer Control Institute. Rob held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Newcastle from 1998-2001. L/Prof Sanson-Fisher has successfully supervised 58 PhD students to completion, with 10 now appointed as associate or full professors and leading their own research teams. L/Prof Sanson-Fisher was the recipient of the Australian Psychological Society’s President’s Award for distinguished contributions to psychology in Australia (2010), the Research Australia NSW Government Health Services Research Award (2014), and appointed Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2016). His dedication to training the next generation of health behaviour scientists is also exemplified by his nomination as a finalist in the Australian Museum Eureka awards as an Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers in 2015. He was also honoured by the Cancer Institute NSW in 2014 with the “Make a Difference” award in recognition of his lifetime contribution and lasting impact on cancer control and research practice.