Prof. John Attia

Biography

Professor John Attia obtained a BSc in Physiology (Faculty scholar at McGill University) and then won a 5 year MRC scholarship to complete his MD/PhD in Molecular Genetics (University of Toronto). He trained at McMaster University (Canada) in general internal medicine and obtained his fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. During this time he was awarded the Outstanding Housestaff award, the J.T. Walsh award for outstanding Internal Medicine resident, and Best Teacher in Internal Medicine. During his residency, he also completed his MSc in Epidemiology (McMaster University). He has been listed on the NHMRC register of Evidence-Based Medicine experts and has provided epidemiological expertise to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Over the last 13 years since starting his academic career (1999-2012), he has collaborated in obtaining $13.6 million in grant income and published 226 manuscripts (with another 5 submitted); these have garnered 2234 citations, leading to an h-index of 26 (Scopus data 9 February 2011). He has also submitted 7 government reports, and 7 book chapters. He has been supervisor or co-supervisor to 20 PhD students (10 graduated and 10 current) and 6 Master’s students (5 graduated, 1 current).

He is currently academic director of general medicine at John Hunter Hospital responsible for the foundation and running of the advanced training program for general physicians, one of the only fully supported such programs in the state. He is also co-director of the Clinical Research Design, IT, and Statistical Support (CReDITSS) Unit, a unit that provides methodological and analysis advice to clinical researchers.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Toronto
• Master of Science, McMaster University - Canada
• Bachelor of Science, McGill University - Canada
• Doctor of Medicine, University of Toronto

Research

Research keywords

• clinical epidemiology
• genetic epidemiology
• public health

Research expertise

John Attia started his academic career with his appointment to the University of Newcastle in 1999. Over the last 7 years, he has juggled:

a) clinical practice as a general physician (3+ months per year) on the inpatient roster at the major teaching hospital (John Hunter).

b) a significant teaching load, developing and teaching courses in clinical epidemiology, molecular epidemiology,and genetic epidemiology for graduate students, and medical students.

c) developing and supervising the first structured advanced training program in general medicine in NSW.

d) supervision and co-supervision of 12 research higher degree students

Despite these varied commitments, John has been an active researcher, for both self-initiated and collaborative projects, i.e. assisting colleagues in the design and analysis of their projects. This has resulted in 62 publications (with another 10 submitted), $2.1 million in grant funding as lead or co-investigator, and another $2.5 million as associate investigator.

Languages

• French

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Public Health

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Appointments

Awards

Research Award.