Epidemiologist honoured for improving health outcomes for SA’s Ethiopian community

Congratulations to Associate Professor Yohannes Melaku for receiving the 2026 Best Person of the Year award from the Ethiopian Community Association of South Australia, for improving health outcomes for SA’s Ethiopian community.

Associate Professor Melaku’s research – which looks at how nutrition and sleep influence chronic health conditions – identified negative lifestyle behaviours impacting the mental and physical health of the local Ethiopian community.

Through hosting a series of local workshops and awareness programs, Associate Professor Melaku is applying his expertise to boost health and wellbeing outcomes for SA’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

 

GP celebrated for advancing healthcare in SA’s Riverland region

Congratulations to rural SA GP Dr James McLeod for receiving the 2026 Outstanding Contribution Award from the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN).

Dr McLeod, who is the Medical Educator for Flinders third-year medical students in the Riverland, received the award for exceptional patient care and mentorship of junior doctors and medical students.

Dr McLeod has dedicated more than 10 years of service to the Renmark and wider Riverland and Mallee communities. His leadership has helped strengthen the region’s hospital and healthcare services and led to new recruitment initiatives to help attract and retain healthcare workers in the region.