Local girl, Amanda Kerr has just graduated from Oxford University in the UK with a Doctor of Philosophy (D. Phil) in Epidemiology.
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns, causes and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. It is the cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. Epidemiologists help with study design, collection, and statistical analysis of data, amend interpretation and dissemination of results. Epidemiology has helped develop methodology used in clinical research, public health studies, and, to a lesser extent, basic research in the biological sciences.
This is the culmination of 4 years of hard work and study by Amanda. Amanda has been working in research at the University since she and her husband Matthew Goff, travelled to the UK 12 years ago for a supposed 6 month holiday. They now have 2 children 7 and 10 years old and seem to be well and truly settled over there. Amanda, whose parents Jan and Graham Kerr travelled to the UK to attend her graduation ceremony, is currently employed in the Clinical Trials Unit at the University. The graduation ceremony was full of pomp and tradition, being held in the 12th Century Sheldonian Theatre with tradition being upheld with all the proceedings
being in Latin! Luckily there was a translation into English for those attending.
Highlights of the day were breakfast at her college (Green Templeton) then a compulsory walk to the Sheldonian in the rain and lunch afterwards at a lovely old restaurant with her Professor and two other D.Phil supervisors. Congratulations to Dr Amanda Kerr on
this fantastic achievement.