Jessica Watterson

Senior Lecturer in Digital Health at Monash University

Dr. Jessica Watterson is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Health at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Action Lab in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University Australia. Her research primarily focuses on the design and evaluation of digital health technologies aimed at underserved populations, with significant projects involving health management for low-income and marginalized groups.1 2

Education and Career Background

Dr. Watterson earned her PhD in Health Policy and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, following her undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at New York University. Before her tenure at Monash University, she worked as a Senior Design Researcher at IDEO and collaborated with organizations like the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières, focusing on health innovations through human-centered design methodologies.1 3

Research Interests

Her research encompasses various areas including:

Digital Health: Development of mobile health applications and digital tools.
Health Equity: Addressing disparities in health access and outcomes.
Chronic Disease Management: Specifically targeting conditions like diabetes.
Women's Health: Initiatives aimed at improving health care for women in different contexts.1 4

Dr. Watterson's work contributes to global health initiatives, particularly in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the importance of equitable health solutions.1

Current Projects

She is involved in several research projects, including those aimed at improving immunization rates in India and enhancing communication within healthcare teams through electronic medical records.1 2 Additionally, she is a key figure in initiatives that promote digital health equity across Asia through networks such as NEED (Network for Equity through Digital Health).2

Overall, Dr. Watterson's contributions to public health and digital health innovation highlight her commitment to improving healthcare access and quality for vulnerable populations globally.