Rachael Mira McLean is a New Zealand public health physician and academic, and is a full professor at the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

. Her research focuses on the public health consequences of nutritional and dietary choices, and includes the relationship between diet and

chronic disease A chronic condition (also known as chronic disease or chronic illness) is a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time. The term ''chronic'' is often applied when the ...

Academic career

McLean completed a

Master of Public Health The Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Medical Science in Public Health (MMSPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), International Masters for Health Leadership (IMHL) are interdisciplinary profes ...

followed by a

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

titled ''Sodium in New Zealand: intake, consumer perceptions, and implications for chronic disease'' at the University of Otago. McLean then joined the faculty of the Department of Preventative and Social Medicine at Otago, rising to associate professor in 2020 and full professor in 2024. McLean is a part of the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research. McLean's research focuses on the environmental factors that affect people's dietary choices, and the relationship between diet and chronic diseases such as

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

and

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

. McLean's research on the measurement of salt intake has contributed to international best practice, and national and international dietary recommendations. She has called for a reduction in salt levels in food, to meet

World Health Organisation The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has 6 regional offices and 15 ...

targets. McLean was part of a research team that investigated 'traffic light' labels for salt in food, and found that such a labelling system would improve nutritional choices by New Zealand consumers. She has also explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and injury. McLean was part of a $2 million research programme, the Cancer Society Research Collaboration, funded by the

Cancer Society Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal ...

. The collaboration between Otago, Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington was led by McLean,

Janet Hoek Janet Anne Hoek is a New Zealand academic. She was promoted to full professor at Massey University in 2003 and was appointed full professor at the University of Otago. Academic career After a 1996 PhD titled '' 'Some effects of question wordin ...

, Diana Sarfati,

Louise Signal Louise Nadine Signal is a New Zealand academic, and is a full professor at the University of Otago, specialising in researching public health policy and promotion, inequities in healthcare, and environmental determinants of health. Academic car ...

, Sue Crengle, and Richard Egan, and aimed to reduce the 'incidence, impact, and inequities' of cancer in New Zealand. McLean is on the board of trustees of St Clair School.

Selected works

* * * * *

References

External links

*
Food and advocacy: measurement matters
', inaugural professorial lecture 29 August 2024, {{DEFAULTSORT:McLean, Rachael New Zealand academics New Zealand women academics Academic staff of the University of Otago University of Otago alumni New Zealand public health doctors Year of birth missing (living people) Living people