Rate My Professor Ronald Plotnikoff

Professor Ronald Plotnikoff is the University of Newcastle's first Chair in Physical Education and Population Health, appointed in 2009, and Founding Director of the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition since 2010. He serves as Professor and Chair in Physical Activity and Population Health Education in the School of Education, Co-Director of the Centre for Active Living and Learning, and Co-Lead of the Hunter Medical Research Institute's Cardiovascular Program since 2009. Plotnikoff holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Newcastle, Master of Educational Studies and Master of Education from the University of Newcastle, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Eastern Washington University. His career includes prior roles as Professor at the University of Alberta (2004-2009), where he directed the Physical Activity and Population Health Lab, Associate Professor (2001-2003) and Assistant Professor (1998-2001) there, Investigator and Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa (1996-1998), and earlier positions at the University of Newcastle including Lecturer (1986-1989) and PhD Fellow (1990-1994). He was also a school teacher in Queensland and New South Wales (1982-1986).

Plotnikoff's research specializes in intervention development and testing for physical activity promotion to prevent and manage chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, alongside healthy body weight and general health promotion across schools, clinics, workplaces, and communities. His work applies behavioural epidemiology, exercise psychology, health promotion, and social cognitive theories, targeting populations such as adolescents, adults with diabetes, and cancer survivors. He has authored over 400 peer-reviewed publications, including 'Effect and moderators of exercise on fatigue in patients with breast cancer: Meta-analysis of individual patient data' (2018), 'Daily steps and diet quality, but not sleep, are related to mortality in older Australians' (2019), and 'Utility and feasibility of a smartphone app to support school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT)' (2019). His research has attracted over $50 million in funding and exceeds 35,000 citations. Awards include the NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (2012), CIHR Chair in Applied Public Health (2007), Alberta Heritage Foundation Health Scholar (2004), and CIHR New Investigator Award (2002). Plotnikoff is an internationally recognized leader in physical activity and public health.