Rate My Professor Alexia Pena Vargas

Alexia Peña Vargas is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, College of Health, at Adelaide University. A Paediatrician originally trained in Colombia, she obtained her MD from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (1990-1995) and specialization in Paediatrics from Universidad Nacional (1997-2000). Migrating to Australia in 2000, she completed her Paediatric Endocrinology training, earning FRACP from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and a PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2008 examining early markers of cardiovascular disease and strategies to improve vascular health in children with type 1 diabetes and obesity. She serves as a Staff Specialist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Her career encompasses key appointments including Deputy Chair of the Patient Care Ethics Committee since 2019, Chair of the School of Medicine MBBS/MD Admissions Working Group since 2019, Medical Clinical Council Member from 2016 to 2020, council member of the Asian Pacific Pediatric Endocrine Society since 2022 and Treasurer since 2024, Co-Chair of the International Guidelines Committee since March 2023, Chair of the University Clinical Aptitude Test Australia and New Zealand Test Management Committee since late 2023, and previous roles as Clinical Lecturer from 2008 to 2011.

Dr Peña’s research specializations center on the management of childhood and adolescent obesity and its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. She led the first Australasian guidelines for assessment and management of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2020, and contributed to the 2025 update. She participated in the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes guidelines on paediatric type 2 diabetes published in 2022 and updated in 2024, and in the international evidence-based guidelines for polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents and women in 2018 and 2023 as part of the Centre for Research Excellence in PCOS. Her publications appear in high-impact journals and have been presented nationally and internationally. Key works include “Psychosocial Experiences of Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-synthesis” (Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 2026), “Cross-Sectional Study on Adolescents' Views on Changing the Name of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Importance of Education on the Condition” (Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2026), “Widening access to medical school in Australia: A realist evaluation” (Medical Education, 2025), and “Virtual Multiple Mini Interviews: Implementation and evaluation for undergraduate medical, dental, and oral health degrees” (Medical Teacher, 2025). Awards include the Alice Davey Award (2018), Kaichi Kida APPES Presentation Award (2014), and a 2016 nomination for student teaching excellence.