From Medicine to Big-Picture Thinking: A Researcher’s Journey in Public Health – Meet Professor Lennert Veerman 

What does it take to move from the hospital bedside to shaping national health policy? For Professor Lennert Veerman, the answer lies in curiosity, a passion for the ‘big picture’ and a willingness to follow an unconventional path. In this Q&A, our Griffith public health researcher shares the journey that led him from medical school to academia, the projects driving real change across Australia and beyond, and the advice he wishes someone had given him at the start. 

1. What path led you to becoming a researcher?

I sort of rolled into it. I trained as a doctor because I wanted skills that would be useful anywhere in the world. During my student years, I became active in the international body for medical students, travelled widely and learnt how to organise. By the time I qualified as a doctor, I knew that hospitals were not the right fit for me, I wanted something more ‘big picture’. 

I took a part-time role working with asylum seekers, specialised in public health, and when that position began to feel routine, I applied for a PhD. Once in academia, I found I genuinely enjoyed the freedom, the intellectual challenges, the ethical dimensions of the work, and the colleagues. So, I stayed. 

As it turns out, academics cross borders far more easily than doctors, who frequently face regulatory barriers, so the move suited me well.  

2. Can you tell us about the projects you are currently working on?

Most of our work focuses on the health impact of policies that influence major risk factors such as diet, physical activity and alcohol use. 

We recently concluded a project on the taxation of sugary drinks across various countries for the World Bank. In partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland, we are estimating the benefits of physical activity for the life expectancy of Queenslanders ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics—and the results are compelling: physical activity can genuinely add years to your life. 

Working with the NSW Government, we have calculated the value of replacing one kilometre of car travel with walking or cycling—approximately $5 and $3 respectively— to inform cost-benefit analyses. As a result, infrastructure plans in NSW are now more likely to incorporate walkways and bike lanes, which is a tangible outcome we are proud of.  

3. What motivates or inspires your research?

I am deeply interested in what makes some populations healthier than others. For example, why is life expectancy around five years higher in Australia than in the United States? Factors such as gun violence, the opioid crisis, and access to healthcare all play a role. And what drives those so-called ‘diseases of despair’? Differences in governance and stark inequalities in income, wealth and power are significant contributors—and it raises the question: could it happen here? 

‘Many interventions that would greatly improve population health are not politically feasible because vested interests influence decision-making — think alcohol, sugary foods, and gambling’

Australia leads the world in tobacco control through regulation and taxation, and I believe that is directly linked to the absence of a domestic tobacco industry to interfere in policy. There is no reason we could not apply the same approach to other major risk factors. 

Our analyses make visible the potential health gains and associated economic benefits, which can support policymakers in prioritising health and that is what keeps me motivated.

4. Do you have any advice for researchers just starting out?

If you are starting out in research, I hope you have a high tolerance for uncertainty. Academic funding is often short-term, so do not count on a continuing position too soon—it took me ten years after my PhD to secure one. That said, choose an area you are genuinely passionate about, because that passion will carry you through. 

Work hard but take care of yourself. Make time for sleep, physical activity and a social life, burnout is never worth it. Be flexible where your personal circumstances allow, as strong opportunities may sometimes require moving to a different institution or employer. 

It also helps to have a back-up plan. There are rewarding roles in NGOs, the public sector, and the private sector where research skills are highly valued and where greater stability is on offer. 

Above all, consider any time you can devote to research, a privilege—and enjoy it. 

Griffith is proud to produce world-class research contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.