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Professor Di Eley
Professor

Di Eley

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Overview

Background

Professor Diann (Di) Eley is the Director of MD Student Research and Chair of the UQ Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC B). Di became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2018.

Di is an active member of several professional associations. This includes the Board of Directors of IAMSE (International Association of Medical Science Educators) and Chair of the IAMSE Ambassador Program. As a member of AMEE (Association of Medical Education in Europe), she has served on the AMEE Research Committee since 2017. A longstanding member of ANZAHPE (Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators) she served on the Board of Directors and as journal liaison officer for seven years.

Di’s research career began with a Master's of Science degree (MSc) in reproductive physiology at the University of Florida in 1978. She subsequently worked for over 20 years as a bench scientist in bio-medical laboratories in the USA, Kenya and the UK. In 2000, she began her academic career after receiving a PhD in health and exercise psychology at the University of Bristol. She moved to the School of Medicine at UQ in late 2003.

The primary focus of Di’s research is medical education, research training and rural health workforce. Her specific area of research interest deals with personality and its association with well-being and healthy mindsets. Di is responsible for the development and implementation of the Clinician-Scientist Track in the UQ Medical School which encourages student interest and experience in research, and facilitates medical students undertaking a Higher Degree by Research (MD-PhD, MD-MPhil) alongside their medical degree.

Di has been recognised for her leadership in several Faculty initiatives in medical education, and received the 2015 University of Queensland Award for Excellence in Leadership. [http://www.hr.uq.edu.au/recognition/uq-awards-excellence-2015-recipients]

Di has over 150 peer reviewed journal publications, and has led successful projects through research funding including ARC Linkage and Discovery grants as well as Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) grants. Additionally she has received UQ and national awards for teaching excellence for programs that enhance learning.

  • 2019: Faculty of Medicine Excellence Awards for Leadership – Nomination
  • 2016: Faculty of Medicine Excellence Awards for Teaching and Learning – Nomination.
  • 2015: The University of Queensland Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Learning [https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2015/11/uq’s-outstanding-teachers-celebrated] [https://vimeo.com/149706002]
  • 2015: The University of Queensland Award for Excellence in Leadership [http://www.hr.uq.edu.au/recognition/uq-awards-excellence-2015-recipients]
  • 2014: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Senior Teaching Excellence Award
  • 2014: Dean’s Award for Innovation in Curriculum Development. School of Medicine
  • 2013: The University of Queensland - 'Commendation' for an Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • 2013: The University of Queensland Faculty of Health Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • 2006: National Carrick Award for Australian University Teaching – Programs that Enhance Learning: Innovation in curricula, learning and teaching.
  • 2006: The University of Queensland Award for Enhancement of Student Learning. Programs that Enhance Learning: Innovation in curricula, learning and teaching.
  • 2006: The University of Queensland Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
  • 2005: The University of Queensland Awards for Enhancement of Student Learning

Availability

Professor Di Eley is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Western Michigan University
  • Masters (Research) of Science, University of Florida
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Bristol
  • Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy

Research interests

  • Medical education and research training

  • Clinician-Scientist training

  • Personality and behaviour around well being

  • Research ethics

  • Personality and career choice

  • Rural workforce training and education

Works

Search Professor Di Eley’s works on UQ eSpace

238 works between 1977 and 2025

21 - 40 of 238 works

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Determinants of rural practice: positive interaction between rural background and rural undergraduate training

Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Eley, Diann S., Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Chater, Alan B., Toombs, Maree R., Darshan, Deepak and Nicholson, Geoffrey C. (2015). Determinants of rural practice: positive interaction between rural background and rural undergraduate training. Medical Journal Australia, 202 (1), 41-46. doi: 10.5694/mja14.00236

Determinants of rural practice: positive interaction between rural background and rural undergraduate training

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Exploring resilience in rural GP registrars – implications for training

Walters, Lucie, Laurence, Caroline O., Dollard, Joanne, Elliott, Taryn and Eley, Diann S. (2015). Exploring resilience in rural GP registrars – implications for training. BMC Medical Education, 15 (1) 110, Art. No.: 110-Art. No.: 110. doi: 10.1186/s12909-015-0399-x

Exploring resilience in rural GP registrars – implications for training

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Removing interview for medical school selection is associated with gender bias among enrolled students

Wilkinson, David, Casey, Mavourneen G. and Eley, Diann S. (2014). Removing interview for medical school selection is associated with gender bias among enrolled students. Medical Journal of Australia, 200 (2), 96-99. doi: 10.5694/mja13.10103

Removing interview for medical school selection is associated with gender bias among enrolled students

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Where does medical education stand in nurturing the 3 Rs in medical students: responsibility, resilience and resolve?

Eley, Diann S. and Stallman, Helen (2014). Where does medical education stand in nurturing the 3 Rs in medical students: responsibility, resilience and resolve?. Medical Teacher, 36 (10), 835-837. doi: 10.3109/0142159X.2014.917159

Where does medical education stand in nurturing the 3 Rs in medical students: responsibility, resilience and resolve?

Featured

2013

Journal Article

The relationship between resilience and personality traits in doctors: implications for enhancing well being.

Eley, Diann S., Cloninger, C. Robert, Walters, Lucie, Laurence, Caroline, Synnott, Robyn and Wilkinson, David (2013). The relationship between resilience and personality traits in doctors: implications for enhancing well being.. PeerJ, 1 (e216) 216, 1-16. doi: 10.7717/peerj.216

The relationship between resilience and personality traits in doctors: implications for enhancing well being.

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Additional perspectives on transforming science into medicine

Eley, Diann S. and Wilkinson, David (2012). Additional perspectives on transforming science into medicine. Academic Medicine, 87 (10), 1310-1310. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3182670326

Additional perspectives on transforming science into medicine

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Management of professional boundaries in rural practice

Brooks, Kathleen D., Eley, Diann S., Pratt, Rebekah and Zink, Therese (2012). Management of professional boundaries in rural practice. Academic Medicine, 87 (8), 1091-1095. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31825ccbc8

Management of professional boundaries in rural practice

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Why did I become a nurse? Personal traits and reasons for entering nursing

Eley, Diann, Eley, Rob, Bertello, Marisa and Rogers-Clark, Cath (2012). Why did I become a nurse? Personal traits and reasons for entering nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68 (7), 1546-1555. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.05955.x

Why did I become a nurse? Personal traits and reasons for entering nursing

Featured

2010

Journal Article

Junior doctors' perceptions of their preparedness for hospital work: Support for the rural clinical school model as a key to better preparation

Eley, Diann S. (2010). Junior doctors' perceptions of their preparedness for hospital work: Support for the rural clinical school model as a key to better preparation. Medical Journal of Australia, 192 (2), 109-110. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03436.x

Junior doctors' perceptions of their preparedness for hospital work: Support for the rural clinical school model as a key to better preparation

2025

Journal Article

What would i do if i was an emergency physician? A tool to generate discussion

Eley, Rob, Eley, Diann and Greentree, Charley (2025). What would i do if i was an emergency physician? A tool to generate discussion. Medical Science Educator. doi: 10.1007/s40670-025-02282-2

What would i do if i was an emergency physician? A tool to generate discussion

2025

Journal Article

Exploring the unique value of clinician scientist roles to the health services in which they are employed: a scoping review

Buttrum, Peter, Butler, Prudence, Young, Adrienne, Eley, Diann and O’Leary, Shaun (2025). Exploring the unique value of clinician scientist roles to the health services in which they are employed: a scoping review. Australian Health Review, 49 (2). doi: 10.1071/ah24231

Exploring the unique value of clinician scientist roles to the health services in which they are employed: a scoping review

2024

Journal Article

Oral health students' perceptions of the learning environment in Australia and New Zealand: a DREEM study

Pritchard, L., Keshoor, S., Eley, D., Beckett, D., Bromage, A., Knevel, R., Satur, J. and Stormon, N. (2024). Oral health students' perceptions of the learning environment in Australia and New Zealand: a DREEM study. European Journal of Dental Education, 28 (3), 779-788. doi: 10.1111/eje.13005

Oral health students' perceptions of the learning environment in Australia and New Zealand: a DREEM study

2023

Journal Article

Rural medical workforce pathways: exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time

McGrail, Matthew R., Gurney, Tiana, Fox, Jordan, Martin, Priya, Eley, Diann, Nasir, Bushra and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2023). Rural medical workforce pathways: exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time. Human Resources for Health, 21 (1) 31, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12960-023-00819-3

Rural medical workforce pathways: exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time

2022

Journal Article

Different degrees, similar personalities: A four-year comparison of dentistry and medicine students

Stormon, Nicole, Seysan, Martin, Ford, Pauline J. and Eley, Diann (2022). Different degrees, similar personalities: A four-year comparison of dentistry and medicine students. Focus on Health Professional Education, 23 (2), 60-68. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v23i2.541

Different degrees, similar personalities: A four-year comparison of dentistry and medicine students

2021

Journal Article

Exploring doctors’ emerging commitment to rural and general practice roles over their early career

McGrail, Matthew, O’Sullivan, Belinda, Gurney, Tiana, Eley, Diann and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2021). Exploring doctors’ emerging commitment to rural and general practice roles over their early career. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (22) 11835, 11835. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182211835

Exploring doctors’ emerging commitment to rural and general practice roles over their early career

2021

Journal Article

Empathetic, persistent and female: a snapshot of oral health therapy students in Australia and New Zealand

Stormon, Nicole, Beckett, Deanna, Gardner, Suzanne, Keshoor, Smita, Smart, Karen, Wallace, Linda, Ford, Pauline J., Satur, Julie and Eley, Diann (2021). Empathetic, persistent and female: a snapshot of oral health therapy students in Australia and New Zealand. European Journal of Dental Education, 26 (1) eje.12689, 206-215. doi: 10.1111/eje.12689

Empathetic, persistent and female: a snapshot of oral health therapy students in Australia and New Zealand

2021

Journal Article

Personality, resilience, and calling in students undertaking a medical degree across two continents: disparate pathways to the healing profession

Galarneau, David, Seoane, Leonardo and Eley, Diann S. (2021). Personality, resilience, and calling in students undertaking a medical degree across two continents: disparate pathways to the healing profession. Ochsner Journal, 21 (2), 143-151. doi: 10.31486/toj.20.0029

Personality, resilience, and calling in students undertaking a medical degree across two continents: disparate pathways to the healing profession

2020

Other Outputs

Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review

World Health Organisation Team, Strasser, Sarah, Austin, Marni, Bendotti, Hollie, Bourke, Gary, Campbell, David, Campbell, Narelle , Chater, Alan Bruce, Chong, Hwee Sin , Cribb, Jacqueline, Cumming, Kay, Doty, Barbara Jean, Eley, Diann, Erikson, Jay S., Florentis, Anastasia, Floss, Mayara, Goot, Katie, Greacen, Jane, Jonk, Yvonne , Khoo, Kean, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Lamb, Margaret, Longenecker, Randall, McGrail, Matthew, Nasir, Bushra, Partanen, Riitta, Paterson, Davis , Rajapalisha, Dilum , Schmitz, David ... Tynan, Anna (2020). Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review. Human Resources for Health Observer Series No. 25 Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review

2019

Journal Article

Depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian dentistry students

Stormon, Nicole, Ford, Pauline J., Kisely, Steve, Bartle, Emma and Eley, Diann S. (2019). Depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian dentistry students. European Journal of Dental Education, 23 (4) eje.12459, 507-514. doi: 10.1111/eje.12459

Depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian dentistry students

2018

Conference Publication

What is important to medical students for clinical school choice?

Partanen, Riitta, Ostini, Remo and Eley, Diann (2018). What is important to medical students for clinical school choice?. The MUSTER 2018, Mt Gambier, SA Australia, 15-18 October 2018 .

What is important to medical students for clinical school choice?

Funding

Past funding

  • 2016 - 2020
    Development and testing of a tool to measure risk propensity by junior doctors
    Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Investigating the influence of training pathways on practice location: a prospective study of the physician and paediatrician specialist medical workforce
    Royal Australasian College of Physicians
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    GAMSAT - beyond predictive validity: an exploration of political validity, acceptability, and educational impact
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Work-based assessment of teamwork: an interprofessional approach
    OLT Innovation and Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    UMAT: A definition and exploration of fitness for purpose
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Extending GAMSAT: Enhancing the scope and validity
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Increasing the rural medical workforce: Investigating personal traits to enhance our understanding and improve training of rural registrars
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    ResTeach 2010 0.2 FTE School of Medicine
    Open grant
  • 2010
    UQ Travel Awards Category 2, Diann Eley
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    An Investigtation into mining in the Surat and Clarence-Moreton Basin communities
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Exploring the educational environment in teaching hospitals: ensuring quality intern training for University of Queensland medical graduates
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led models of chronic disease management in general practice
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Mentoring Rural and Indigenous Students into General Practice as a Career Choice
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Recruit to Retain: From Medical School to Rural Practitioner
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Di Eley is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Training Tommorrows Doctors Longitudnal Medical Education Study

    The Training Tomorrow’s Doctors (TTD): Longitudinal Medical Education Study began in 2010 as an initiative of the then, UQ School of Medicine for the broad purpose of undertaking evidence based medical education evaluation and research with UQ medical students both retrospectively and prospectively. The project aims are to develop and maintain a longitudinal database of information academic and personal characteristics medical students that will be used to review the quality of and lead to improvements in the medical program delivered at UQ. The TTD study represents a suite of inter-related projects that will contribute to the Medical School's understanding of how medical students are selected and trained, how they progress through the medical course, and how they transition into professional clinical practice. The TTD also aims to contribute to the broader literature concerned with enhancing the mental well-being of medical students and junior doctors. The objective is to equip our students with the knowledge and self-awareness to help them to lead productive and healthy lives, and in doing so, be appropriate role models for their patients.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Di Eley directly for media enquiries about:

  • career choice
  • clinician scientist
  • MD-PhD
  • personality
  • recruitment and retention of rural doctors
  • reseach training
  • resilience
  • rural health workforce
  • well-being

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au