Rate My Professor Anna Davies

Anna Davies is a Senior Research Fellow and PhD candidate in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, within the Faculty of Medicine. She holds a BSc and an MSc in psychology from the University of Otago in Dunedin, as well as a Diploma in Public Health (DPH). Her interest in mental health and addiction originated from her undergraduate and MSc studies in psychology and was further cultivated through her work at the Mental Health Commission. Before joining the University of Otago in 2014, Davies served as a Senior Advisor (Epidemiology) at the Ministry of Health, where she specialized in data linkage and the use of national health data collections. Upon joining Otago, she contributed to the Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE³), progressing to her current senior role.

Davies is a member of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) Research Group, focusing on epidemiology related to cancer treatment provision for Māori populations. Her PhD investigates the measurement of optimal cancer care pathways in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly those critical for improving Māori cancer survival. Her research specializations include epidemiology, data linkage, pathways of care, cancer, mental health, and addictions. Key publications demonstrate her contributions to cancer epidemiology and health equity: Gurney, J., Ongley, D., Cameron, L., Costello, S., Davies, A., Dawkins, P., Jackson, C. G. C. A., et al. (2025). Patterns of treatment prior to death among those with lung cancer: A national study in a universal healthcare context. Lung Cancer, 208, 108761; Davies, A., Stanley, J., Costello, S., Dunn, A., Dawkins, P., Jackson, C., et al. (2025). Radiation therapy for lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. Cancer Causes & Control (advance online); Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Davies, A., Signal, V., Dawkins, P., Cameron, L., Costello, S., Jackson, C. G. C. A., et al. (2025). Improving lung cancer survival outcomes for Māori. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1618), 96-103; Gurney, J., Ballantine, K., Chiang, A., Davies, A., Jackson, C. G. C. A., Koea, J., Stanley, J., & Macfarlane, S. (2025). Child and adolescent/young adult cancer incidence and survival for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. Cancer Epidemiology, 97, 102868; Gurney, J., Davies, A., Stanley, J., Dunn, A., Cameron, L., Costello, S., et al. (2025). National variation in the treatment of lung cancer in a universal healthcare context. British Journal of Cancer (advance online). Her research informs strategies to address disparities in cancer care and outcomes for indigenous communities.