Stephen Leeder

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Stephen Leeder is professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Sydney. He was dean of the medical faculty between 1996 and 2002 and oversaw the implementation of a new graduate educational program and the formation of an extensive rural education network for medical students.

Between 1976 and 1985 he helped found the new medical school at Newcastle, NSW. His research interests as a clinical epidemiologist include asthma and cardiovascular disease. He has served on both state and federal committees that oversaw the adoption of health goals and targets for Australia, and on the NHMRC and numerous boards.

In 2003-04, Professor Leeder worked at Columbia University assessing the impending effects of heart disease and stroke on developing economies.

Professor Leeder is currently Director of the Australian Health Policy Institute at the University of Sydney and Co-director of the Menzies Centre for Public Health Policy a collaborative agreement between The Australian National University and the University of Sydney.

Stephen Leeder's contributions:

Facing the Facts on Obesity

Australia eats too much and moves too little. But the solutions to the obesity crisis aren't simple, argues Steve Leeder. We need more evidence, less finger-pointing and strong leadership to get our obesity response into shape.

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Health

A New Progressive Consensus?

We asked delegates to the 2020 Summit for an appraisal of the proceedings and the ideas which emerged throughout the weekend. CPD Director Miriam Lyons, Stephen Leeder, Lyn Carson, Jon Altman and Bill Bowtell report back.

Our Common Wealth

Dental as anything

The constituency for dental health may have a weak bite, but recently its voice has become stronger. Stephen Leeder and Amanda Dominello outline the steps needed to fill the cavity in public dental care.

Health

WARNING: A rising temperature can be a sign of illness

Stephen Leeder considers the implications of global warming for health policy, and calls for the effects on global health to form part of debates on energy production. He predicts increases in respiratory disorders as a result of global warming and calls for investigation into its likely impact on vector-borne diseases and those transmitted by mosquitoes

Health

The Rehabilitation of Human Research Ethics Committees

Health research ethics committees (HRECs) protect the interests of patients who participate in medical research. Citing the widespread disapproval of these committees at the moment, Steve Leeder calls for their roles to be clarified. He rejects the calls by drug companies for these committees to be centralized and makes four recommendations to improve them

Health

The challenge of mental health care in general practice

Stephen Leeder calls for a more collaborative approach to the treatment of mental health. Drawing on the success of a recent federally-funded trial, Leeder calls for Medicare to be expanded to cover care provided by psychologists to mentally ill patients. Leeder estimates the policy would cost $100 million annually but warns about over-servicing. He predicts benefits for rural areas

Health

Harry Potter and the Health Care Charm

Stephen Leeder discusses the charms that Harry Potter might use to fix the problems in the health care system. Among the charms that Harry or another magician might use are the No Bureaucracy Charm, the Let the Feds Run it Charm, and the Take Politics out of Health Charm. Leeder warns us about aspects of these quick-fix solutions

Health

Is it safe to be sick?

Professor George Rubin and Professor Steven Leeder ask what progress have we made to ensure that our hospitals do not kill us

Health

Policy or Polyfilla? We need political leadership in Australia

Stephen Leeder discusses the Howard government move away from Medicare. As services previously paid for through Medicare move into the private domain, health care costs go up and equity of access goes down.