Gina Arena

Dr. Gina Arena is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine at The University of Western Australia (UWA), serving as the Scholarly Activities Research Coordinator for the MD program. She has taught at UWA for 20 years, contributing to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Her research focuses on advancing health and medical education, with a particular interest in topics such as diet and health outcomes in lactating women, surgical outcomes, and healthcare policy. Dr. Arena also holds a role as Program Manager at The Kids Research Institute Australia (Telethon Kids Institute).

Her expertise spans medical education, public health, and clinical research. Notable projects include evaluating prescription medication changes post-sleeve gastrectomy and investigating the impact of smoking status on hospital readmissions after surgery. She has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives, such as the SENSitivity project exploring movement trends in early childhood health outcomes and the Personalised Driving Safety study targeting young drivers.

• Education: Doctorate in Medicine (not explicitly stated in text, inferred from title).

Dr. Arena’s work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing good health and well-being. Her research outputs span 18 publications, emphasizing methodological reviews and real-world clinical studies. She has secured grants, including the NH&MRC Postgraduate Research Scholarship, and actively collaborates with institutions like Telethon Kids Institute.

Her academic contributions include over 15 years of teaching innovation, such as adapting pedagogy during the pandemic and integrating web-based tools for medical education. She has advised on curriculum design, clinical teaching practices, and healthcare cost analyses, reflecting her commitment to bridging research and practical application.

Dr. Arena is affiliated with the UWA Medical School, the Telethon Kids Institute, and multiple research units. Her work in health economics, such as analyzing the costs of falls in the elderly, underscores her multidisciplinary approach to improving healthcare systems.