In the realm of health research, one individual stands out for her dedication to improving heart health in rural communities across Australia. Dr. Laura Alston, a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Deakin University, has made significant strides in her research focusing on the impact of diet on heart disease rates in rural areas.
Dr. Alston's work aims to support health services in rural regions to advocate for better access to research evidence and healthy foods, ultimately promoting healthy food choices to improve the heart health of those living in these underserved communities.
Her current research delves into food environments, community health, and dietary patterns in rural areas. By understanding these factors, Dr. Alston hopes to inform strategies that encourage healthy choices and support health services in promoting heart-healthy options to combat the higher burden of heart disease faced by remote populations.
Motivated by her background as a dietitian and rural Australian, Dr. Alston is driven to find ways to make communities healthier, ensuring all Australians have the opportunity to live longer, heart-healthy lives.
Through her research, Dr. Alston has discovered that supporting individuals in following healthy eating guidelines could prevent a significant portion of lives lost to heart disease. This groundbreaking work has garnered media attention and recognition, including being selected for the World Heart Federation's Emerging Leaders Programme.
Dr. Alston attributes much of her success to Heart Foundation funding, which has enabled her to take crucial steps towards achieving her career goals of empowering individuals living with chronic conditions to take an active role in their healthcare.
To all Heart Foundation supporters, Dr. Alston extends her gratitude, emphasizing that without their generosity, her impactful research in rural communities would not be possible. With continued support, she looks forward to creating evidence-based solutions that will enhance the heart health of rural populations for years to come.