Patti Shih

Dr. Patti Shih is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Wollongong's School of Social Sciences. She holds dual roles as a Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Health Engagement Evidence & Values (ACHEEV) and Academic Program Director for the Bachelor with Honours Program.

Her research focuses on sociological aspects of healthcare, particularly consumer engagement with health technologies and policies. Key interests include direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing, overdiagnosis reduction, participatory medicine frameworks, and the ethics of digital health innovations. Methodologically, she combines qualitative approaches with deliberative methods and online research strategies.

Recent work addresses social media's role in promoting health tests with overdiagnosis risks, regulatory challenges in DTC testing, and smartwatch-based medical device implications. She has advised international bodies like the EFLM Taskforce on DTCT and contributed to NHMRC-funded Wiser Healthcare initiatives.

Supervision focuses on qualitative research methods, health technology ethics, and culturally responsive care. Current projects explore mHealth interventions for PNG adolescents, consumer-led engagement frameworks, and Vietnamese migrant healthcare experiences.

Grants include investigations into DTC test harms/benefits, South Asian migrant TB screening perspectives, and AI ethics in healthcare. Her work bridges sociological theory with practical health system improvements, emphasizing equitable consumer participation in healthcare governance.