Professor Cass AO is the Director of Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies). Headquartered in Darwin, Menzies employs over 330 staff across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Since opening its doors in 1985, Menzies core commitment has been undertaking research in partnership with communities, health services and policy-makers to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and addressing the highest priority health problems of communities across northern Australia and our region.
Having trained as a kidney specialist at Sydney University, Prof Cass has pursued a research career with a focus on the prevention and management of chronic disease; addressing the social and systems determinants of health; and improving access to essential health care for people living with kidney and related chronic diseases. Prof Cass has been instrumental in leading the conduct of national and international clinical trials; conducting research to improve the provision of care to patients with low health literacy, who speak a different language and have different understandings of health and illness.