Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

vanessa hammond
Dr Vanessa Hammond

Vanessa Hammond uses her skills gained and honed during the course of her master's study at the Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit in her role as a Public Health Analyst for the Southern District Health Board.

Vanessa's master's study investigated the occupational ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure of New Zealand outdoor workers and resulted in much interest within industry and the media.

Making a difference to work practices was a resultant highlight at the end of her research. However the time during her research also had highlights. “ I enjoyed the technology we used; UVR dosimeters, and I was fortunate to be supervised by Tony Reeder; a supervisor of very high calibre,” she explains.

Other highlights included, “working in the field with the study participants”, and “learning how to analyse data,” Vanessa adds.

While probably not often quoted as a highlight by those who have completed a master's qualification, Vanessa enjoyed learning how to undertake statistical analyses of data. Unexpectedly, it is her confidence ad competence in statistical analyses that is one of the most important skills she uses in her career now.

Vanessa's role within the DHB involves the analysis of data in a rich variety of fields, including analysing the impact of alcohol on emergency department and hospital admissions, investigating Queenstown Lakes District's high and rising giardiasis notification rates, and investigating the association between PM10 air pollution and acute respiratory events in Invercargill.

“During the course of my master's in the Social and Behavioural Research Unit I was given every opportunity to learn and practise my own statistical analyses.” Vanessa explains.

Through the variety of Vanessa's work we see that her skills are being put to use for the good of our communities. Practising and enhancing the real essence of Public Health.

Publications by Vanessa Hammond

Reeder, A. I., Iosua, E., Gray, A. R., & Hammond, V. A. (2014). Validity and reliability of the Munsell® soil color charts for assessing human skin color. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-14-0269

Reeder, A. I., Hammond, V. A., & Gray, A. R. (2010). Questionnaire items to assess skin color and erythemal sensitivity: Reliability, validity, and “the dark shift”. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 19(5), 1167-1173.

Hammond VA, Reeder AI, Gray AR. (2009). Patterns of real-time occupational ultraviolet radiation exposure among a sample of outdoor workers in New Zealand. Public Health, 123(2): 182-187.

Hammond V, Reeder AI, Gray AR, Bell ML. (2008). Are workers or their workplaces the key to occupational sun protection? Health Promotion Journal of Australia; 19(2): 97-101.

Hammond, V. (2008). Outdoor workers - How can employers keep staff safe? Health & Safety Magazine, Nov/Dec.

Back to top