Researcher biography

Dr Magnolia Cardona is Associate Professor of Implementation Science at the School of Psychology. She joined in 2023 to lead a series of social connectedness interventions for youth and older people into the community. She has over two decades' experience in coordinating, monitoring, teaching and leading evaluation of programs in a range of countries using multiple methodologies. Magnolia's research has been implemented in emergency departments, hospital wards, aged care services, general practice and the community in Australia and internationally in Australia, Europe and the US. She is a trained doctor with post-graduate qualifications in public health, Applied Epidemiology and has a PhD from Sydney University.

The past 15 years have been focused on gathering of primary and secondary data to build evidence for practice change in several health systems, with a focus on gerontology, chronic disease and prevention of overtreatment. Her research/evaluation experience spans quantitative research (cohort studies, randomised trials, cross-sectional surveys, retrospective data analysis, systematic reviews) and qualitative research (focus group discussions, nominal group techniques) and engagement in consumer co-design.

Magnolia has published 95 articles, 3 book chapters, one book and many technical reports, and attracted over $2.9 million in competitive research funding. Magnolia has presented at many local, national and international conferences. She is committed to coaching, publishing, and disseminating researhc findings at key stakeholder meetings and lay audiences, as well as feeding back relevant beneficiary groups.