Eleanor Gundry

Eleanor is a medical student at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra and joined as an intern in March 2021. Eleanor is currently working on a joint collaborative project with the University of Alberta investigating policy interventions targeted at enabling financial wellbeing in the context of COVID-19. Prior to commencing her internship, Eleanor completed her Bachelor of Health Science at the ANU where she developed a keen interest in public health and how the social determinants of health shape our health outcomes. With her experience as a volunteer surf lifesaver in her local community, Eleanor is passionate about using her skills to address issues in health at the community level. By interning at CHETRE, Eleanor is excited to gain specific insight into how equity-focused research can translate into meaningful outcomes to improve community health. Eleanor’s academic interests include health promotion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and public health.

What sparked your interest in health equity?

My interest in health equity was sparked by my interests of public health research. Promoting the health and wellbeing of the community is a central aspect of public health medicine. However, how can you achieve this if the health, opportunities, and wellbeing of individuals within the community differ significantly? Thinking about this question in relation to my own community is why I am interested in health equity.  Health equity seeks to solve this question by striving to achieve the highest possible standard of health for all people. I enjoy how inextricably linked health equity and public health are, and the framework these this provides to improve the health of our communities.