Rhema Vaithianathan

Last updated

Rhema Vaithianathan
Rhema Vaithianathan-8202.jpg
Vaithianathan in 2014.
Alma mater University of Auckland
Known forHealth Economics, Big Data, Predictive Risk Modelling
Scientific career
Fields Health economics, big data
Institutions Auckland University of Technology
Thesis

Professor Rhema Vaithianathan is a New Zealand academic who specialises in the field of health economics, and big data. She is a Professor in the School of Economics at Auckland University of Technology and is a co-director of the Centre for Social Data Analytics within that school.

Contents

Career

Tertiary education

Vaithianathan gained a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics in 1989, followed by Masters of Commerce (First-class Honours) in Economics in 1995, and a PhD in Economics in 2000, all from the University of Auckland.

Vaithianathan received a PhD fellowship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, [1] Vaithianathan's PhD thesis, Economic Incentives and Clinical Decisions, studied the economic incentives of questionable behaviour in the medical profession. [2]

During her PhD studies Vaithianathan won the McKinsey Prize for Best Paper at the Australian PhD Conference in Business and Economics in 1997, and the Jan Whitwell Prize for Best Student Paper in 1998. She also won the prize for the Best Doctoral Dissertation in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland in 2000. [3] [4] [1]

Early career

Between 1988 and 1999, Vaithianathan worked as: A Policy Analyst for the New Zealand Treasury, a Health Economist for the Northern Regional Health Authority, an Economic Consultant for the New Zealand Health Funding Authority, and a Health Economist at the Waitemata District Health Board.

Academic career

Vaithianathan commenced her academic career as a research fellow at Australian National University in 2000, returning to the University of Auckland as a lecturer in the School of Economics in 2002.

In 2007 Vaithianathan was awarded a Harkness Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards in health policy. Vaithianathan spent her year-long fellowship at the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard University Medical School, Boston in 2007-08. [5] Her Harkness Fellowship project was entitled Insurance Coverage and Cost Growth [5] .

Vaithianathan returned to the University of Auckland in 2009 as an Associate Professor.

In 2013, Vaithianathan joined the Department of Economics (now School of the Economics) at Auckland University of Technology as a full professor. [3] [4]

In 2014, Vaithianathan was appointed Director of the Singapore Life Panel (hosted by the Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing at the Singapore Management University). [3] [4]  The Panel is a monthly, online-based survey of older Singaporean citizens recognised as one of the largest high-frequency surveys globally.  Vaithianathan retains this role as a partial appointment.

In 2016, Vaithianathan established the Centre for Social Data Analytics in the School of Economics at Auckland University of Technology, together with Professor Tim Maloney. She and Maloney run the Centre as co-directors. [5] [4] [3]

Vaithianathan is a member of Data Futures, a government-academia collaboration on data-use; [6] her work with big data has received press attention. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Research interests

Vaithianathan's research interests include: [7] [4]

Current research projects

Since 2014, Vaithianathan's research has had a strong focus on predictive-risk modelling. Current projects include:

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland University of Technology</span> Public research university in Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college was granted university status. AUT is New Zealand's third largest university in terms of total student enrolment, with approximately 29,100 students enrolled across three campuses in Auckland. It has five faculties, and an additional three specialist locations: AUT Millennium, Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory and AUT Centre for Refugee Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Waring</span> New Zealand politician and academic

Dame Marilyn Joy Waring is a New Zealand public policy scholar, international development consultant, former politician, environmentalist, feminist and a principal founder of feminist economics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Hassall</span> New Zealand paediatrician (1941–2021)

Sir Ian Bruce Hassall was a New Zealand paediatrician and children's advocate. He was New Zealand's first Commissioner for Children from 1989 to 1994. His career entailed working for children and their families as clinician, strategist, researcher and advocate. He was awarded the Aldo Farina Award by UNICEF in 2010 for his dedication to improving child welfare.

Prescriptive analytics is a form of business analytics which suggests decision options for how to take advantage of a future opportunity or mitigate a future risk, and shows the implication of each decision option. It enables an enterprise to consider "the best course of action to take" in the light of information derived from descriptive and predictive analytics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance O'Sullivan (doctor)</span> New Zealand Maori physician (born 1973)

Lance O'Sullivan is a New Zealand Māori doctor formerly practising in Kaitaia, Northland. He is also an author, public speaker and public health advocate. In 2013 O'Sullivan was declared Nga Toa Whakaihuwaka, and in 2014 he was declared New Zealander of the Year 2014 for bringing health programmes to disadvantaged in rural areas.

Judith K. Pringle is a New Zealand organisational/social psychology academic. She is currently a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology.

Kathryn Margaret McPherson is a New Zealand medical researcher and administrator. As of 2018 she is a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology and chief executive of the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesley McCowan</span> New Zealand medical researcher

Lesley Margaret Elizabeth McCowan is a New Zealand medical researcher and academic specialising in maternal health. She is currently a full professor and head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Auckland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwina Pio</span>

Edwina Pio is a New Zealand academic. Pio is currently a full professor of Diversity at the Auckland University of Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merryn Gott</span> New Zealand nursing academic

Caryl Merryn Gott is a New Zealand social science academic specialising in palliative care. She is currently a full professor at the University of Auckland.

Nicola Gavey is a New Zealand psychology academic. She is currently a full professor at the University of Auckland.

Patria Anne Hume is a New Zealand sports biomechanics academic. She is currently a full-time Professor of Human Performance at the Auckland University of Technology Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ) at AUT Millennium.

Shanthi Neranjana Ameratunga is a New Zealand public health academic. As of September 2018 she is currently a full professor at the University of Auckland.

Papaarangi Mary-Jane Reid is a New Zealand public health academic and, as of 2019, is a full professor at the University of Auckland.

Jarrod McKenzie Haar is a New Zealand organisational psychology academic, are Māori, of Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Mahuta descent and as of 2019 is a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

The Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study (GUiNZ) is New Zealand’s largest ongoing cohort study. It recruited and follows 6,846 New Zealand children born between 2009 and 2010—approximately 11 per cent of all children born in the country in that period. The project aims to create an in-depth summary of what life is like for children in New Zealand, and what factors affect their happiness, health, and development. The study also seeks to represent the diversity of modern-day New Zealand families, filling in current knowledge gaps on the health and wellbeing of Māori, Pasifika, and other communities. The study is run from the University of Auckland and is funded primarily by the New Zealand Government.

Michael John Plank is an English-born professor in mathematics and statistics at the University of Canterbury, and a principal investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini. Plank's research has focused on mechanistic mathematical and stochastic models and areas of expertise include ecological and social networks, population dynamics, epidemiological models and marine ecosystems. His work has included developing and applying models to the balanced managing of fishing sites, revitalisation of endangered languages and invasive plant and weed impact. As a Co-Lead for Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa, a research programme established initially under Te Pūnaha Matatini but independent since 2021, he has come to prominence as a COVID-19 modeller and frequent commentator in the media during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Plank has received several awards in recognition of contributions to the field of applied mathematics, particularly for his explanations of how mathematical modelling can benefit social and ecological environments and concerns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Jackson (epidemiologist)</span> New Zealand scientist (born 1954)

Rodney Thornton Jackson is a New Zealand medically-trained epidemiologist who has had lead roles in publicly-funded research focussing on systems to effectively identify risk factors in the epidemiology of chronic diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This involved linking large cohort studies to regional and national electronic health databases and enabling the generation of new risk-prevention equations using web-based tools, such as the PREDICT model, to implement, monitor and improve risk assessment and management guidelines. Research on asthma in which Jackson participated influenced decisions made by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, and he has contributed to public debate on dietary risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Following an evidence-based approach to identification of disparities in medical outcomes for different groups within the New Zealand population, Jackson took a position on racism in the medical sector. In 2020, he became a frequent commentator in the media on the approach of the New Zealand government to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1999, Jackson has been professor of epidemiology at the University of Auckland.

Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre for Complex Systems and Networks, is a New Zealand research centre that focusses on interpreting data about the environment, economy, and society to inform policy decision-making and public debate. Funded by the New Zealand Government, Te Pūnaha Matatini is hosted by the University of Auckland and works in partnership with other universities and organisations, including Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Te Pūnaha Matatini developed mathematical models within different scenarios and provided data to inform the response of the New Zealand Government to the pandemic. Shaun Hendy, David Hayman and Michael Plank were among the high-profile members of the organisation who regularly commented on the COVID-19 pandemic in the news media at the time. The leadership of Te Pūnaha Matatini investigators has supported the setting up of independent research programmes, including Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa and The Disinformation Project.

Dion O'Neale is a New Zealand applied mathematician who specialises in the area of complex systems and network science. His work involves the analysis of empirical data to inform computer simulations to predict how interacting parts and structures of networks can affect the dynamics and properties of systems. During COVID-19, O'Neale created mathematical models to build understanding of how the network of interractions of the virus was spread, and during this period, was a frequent commentator in the New Zealand media about the country's response to the pandemic. He is a senior lecturer in physics at Auckland University, principal investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini and Project Lead of COVID-19 Modelling Aotearoa.

References

  1. 1 2 Vaithianathan, Rhema. "Rhema Vaithianathan".
  2. Vaithianathan, Rhema (2000), Economic Incentives and Clinical Decisions, ResearchSpace@Auckland, hdl:2292/2235, Wikidata   Q111964073
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Rhema Vaithianathan - AUT". www.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rhema Vaithianathan - Professor Profile - Research - AUT". www.aut.ac.nz.
  5. 1 2 3 "Rhema Vaithianathan | Commonwealth Fund". www.commonwealthfund.org. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  6. "Who we are - Data Futures Partnership". datafutures.co.nz.
  7. 1 2 Dann, Jennifer (26 March 2018). "Twelve Questions with Big-data expert Rhema Vaithianathan". NZ Herald via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  8. "Guidelines for use of personal data by Kiwi firms under review".
  9. "More kids being sent to child protection services".
  10. "Rhema Vaithianathan: Data - the heavy lifting can be done blind". Stuff.
  11. Courtland, Rachel (1 June 2018). "Bias detectives: the researchers striving to make algorithms fair". Nature. 558 (7710): 357–360. Bibcode:2018Natur.558..357C. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-05469-3 . PMID   29925973. S2CID   49333323.
  12. @kirsty_johnston, Kirsty Johnston Kirsty Johnston is an investigative reporter at the New Zealand Herald kirsty johnston@nzherald co nz (14 September 2017). "Privacy and profiling fears over secret ACC software". NZ Herald via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  13. "A Child Abuse Prediction Model Fails Poor Families". Wired. 15 January 2018.
  14. sarah.harris@nzherald.co.nz, Sarah Harris Reporter, NZ Herald (6 March 2018). "A quarter of Kiwi kids reported to child protection services, AUT study reveals". NZ Herald via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  15. Roy, Eleanor Ainge (8 March 2018). "Study shows nearly one in four New Zealand children reported to welfare agencies". the Guardian.
  16. 1 2 "Our Projects - Centre for Social Data Analytics - AUT". csda.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  17. Hurley, Dan. "Can an Algorithm Tell When Kids Are in Danger?" . Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  18. "5 projects using AI to combat global inequality". VentureBeat. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  19. Courtland, Rachel (June 2018). "Bias detectives: the researchers striving to make algorithms fair". Nature. 558 (7710): 357–360. Bibcode:2018Natur.558..357C. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-05469-3 . ISSN   0028-0836. PMID   29925973. S2CID   49333323.
  20. "Researchers ask 2000 trainee doctors what it's like to walk in their shoes - Centre for Social Data Analytics - AUT". csda.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  21. "Promising interest in British junior doctor wellbeing study - Centre for Social Data Analytics - AUT". csda.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  22. "Promising results from pilot survey on junior doctor wellbeing - Centre for Social Data Analytics - AUT". csda.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2018.