Rate My Professor Mavis Duncanson

Dr. Mavis Duncanson is a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Epidemiologist in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago. Holding qualifications of MB ChB, MPH, PhD, and GCUT, she is a public health physician specializing in child population health. In her role with the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service (NZCYES), she provides up-to-date and accurate information on the health of children and young people to district health boards across New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. She collaborates with other organizations on the annual Child Poverty Monitor, contributing essential data for policy and planning. Previously, she worked in the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, delivering evidence-based policy advice on health and well-being issues. While based in Sydney, she conducted data analysis for the New South Wales Child Death Review and facilitated consultations for a child injury prevention strategy.

Dr. Duncanson's research focuses on children’s health, with extensive contributions to commissioned reports and peer-reviewed publications. Key works include the 2025 reports 'Mental health of children and young people in Aotearoa 2023', 'Mental health of children and young people in the Central region 2023', 'Mental health of children and young people in Te Manawa Taki 2023', 'Mental health of children and young people in the Northern region 2023', and 'Mental health of children and young people in Te Waipounamu 2023', all published by NZCYES, University of Otago. Other notable reports are 'Children and young people with chronic health conditions in the Southern region' (2024), 'Unintentional injuries among children and young people in the Southern region' (2024), 'Foundations for health in the Southern region 2020', 'Indicators of child and youth health status in Southern District Health Board' (2020), and 'Health and wellbeing of under-25 year olds in Aotearoa 2019'. Her peer-reviewed publications include 'Health outcomes of children in state care in Aotearoa New Zealand' (2023), 'Trends in deprivation in hospitalisations of Indigenous children' (2022), 'Delayed access to care and late presentations in children during the first wave of COVID-19 in New Zealand' (2021), and 'Etiology of Severe Microcephaly in Infants: A Multinational Surveillance Study' (2026). She also co-directs the New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Her epidemiological work significantly influences child health policy and service delivery in New Zealand.