Rate My Professor Stav Zandes

Stavroula Zandes, commonly known as Stav Zandes, serves as a Senior Lecturer in Teaching and Learning at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Possessing a background in psychology and counselling, she has amassed over 20 years of experience in tobacco control and public health through positions at Quit Victoria and the Cancer Council of Victoria across various roles. This experience has equipped her with a profound understanding of behaviour change and health promotion principles. In 2013, she established her own education and training business, Health & Wellbeing Training Consultants, which delivers information on lifestyle topics and trains health and community professionals to incorporate behaviour change discussions into routine client care. The objective is to motivate clients towards positive changes that mitigate chronic disease risks and enhance overall health and wellbeing.

In 2015, Zandes joined the teaching team at Monash University, and in 2017, she took on the role of Lecturer and Unit Coordinator within the Medical Education Research and Quality (MERQ) unit. She oversees the effective delivery and management of multiple undergraduate subjects in Health Sciences and Public Health. Notably, she developed a new unit titled ‘Social and Behavioural Sciences’ introduced in Semester 1, 2018, which integrates evidence-based medicine and complementary therapies to address lifestyle-related chronic illnesses through prevention and holistic, patient-centered care. She also presents to first-year medical students on ‘Health Knowledge and Society’ for the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. Her research outputs include the 2024 publication “Virtual health promotion work–integrated learning placements: A COVID-19 consequence or preparation for the future?” in Health Promotion Practice, and the 2023 article “Interfaculty collaboration for improving international mobility experiences: sustaining a dialogue across difference” in Teaching in Higher Education. In 2024, she received the Teaching Excellence Award as part of a team. Zandes is committed to public health excellence and engaging students to contribute to positive outcomes in health and chronic illness management.