Alexandra Barratt MBBS, MPH, PhD

Alexandra Barratt (MBBS, MPH, PhD) is a Professor of Public Health in the School of Public Health, University of Sydney. She has a background in epidemiological research spanning clinical epidemiology and public health epidemiology. She is recognised internationally for her research to quantify the benefits and harms (including overdiagnosis) of cancer screening, particularly breast cancer screening.

She is a lead investigator on Wiser Healthcare, an NHMRC funded research collaboration to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment in healthcare. Overdiagnosis is one of the biggest drivers of iatrogenic harm, waste and opportunity cost in healthcare and is a serious challenge for citizens, patients and healthcare services around the world.

Professor Barratt is a member of the Scientific Committee for Preventing Overdiagnosis an annual international conference, and a member of the advisory board of Andrology Australia. She has twice won Australian Museum Eureka Prizes for her radio series on cancer screening and evidence based medicine, and is an Australian Museum Eureka Prize Ambassador helping to promote public understanding of science. Previously she has worked for the National Breast Cancer Screening Initiative of Canada, the US National Cancer Institute, NHMRC, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, Family Planning NSW and the Ministry of Health NZ.