Elissa McDonald

Dr McDonald’s research expertise spans ophthalmology, with a particular focus on ophthalmic infections, therapeutics, and zoonotic disease. Her emerging research program adopts a rigorous One Health framework to examine human wellbeing at the interface with Australian wildlife, environmental change, and zoonotic transmission pathways.

In addition to her clinical research, Dr McDonald has an established record of scholarship in nursing workforce development, retention, international movement, and nursing education. Her work pays particular attention to strategies that strengthen regional and rural healthcare capacity and ensure sustainable, high-quality service provision across diverse communities.

Dr McDonald’s research is underpinned by strong expertise in quantitative methodology, biostatistics and evidence-based synthesis. She applies these approaches to generate insights that inform clinical practice, guide professional education, and shape health policy, contributing to improved health outcomes and more resilient health systems.