Fran Baum Explained

Fran Baum
Birth Name:	Frances Elaine Baum
Workplaces:	Flinders University
Known For:	Public health

Fran Baum is an Australian social scientist who conducts research on the social and economic influences and determinants of health. She is director of the Southgate Institute of Health, Society and Equity at Flinders University, Australia, and became an Officer of the Order of Australia for her advocacy work on "improved access to community health care, and to professional organisations".^[1] In 2006, Baum was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.^[2]

Career

Baum works on links between poor health and social inequality. Her research on health policy and budget issues has been described numerous times in The Conversation.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} Baum has also given talks on panels as well as for the media, on issues including fair taxation, and health as well as links between poverty and poor health.^[7]  

Baum has spoken on a panels on de-industrialisation, plus the global social challenges which de-industrialisation brings. Her discussion focused around how, issues in various countries, such as communities struggling to adjust and adapt to de-industrialisation. "Now car manufacturing has ceased in South Australia, some have applied the 'rustbelt' epithet to the state. But the social and economic challenges it faces are part of a global phenomenon. How do you assist communities facing joblessness, the demise of old industries, as well as intergenerational disadvantage?". The symposium was recorded for an NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence for the Health Equity symposium, in Adelaide 2017.^[8]

Baum's research crosses both social and economic inequities and focuses on the resultant impacts on people's and community health. Baum also specialises in evaluating the promotion of health, including indigenous health, and healthy cities initiatives. Baum was awarded an Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship on developing effective responses from social and government perspectives, to health inequity and social exclusion. Baum has been awarded national grants investigating aspects of health inequity, also has a long-term teaching career, which has focused on public health. Baum has written a book, The New Public Health, which in 2015 was in its 4th edition.^[9]

Baum became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours. Her award was for being "an advocate for improved access to community health care, and to professional organisations".^[10]

Selected publications

• Baum, F.E., Graycar, A. and Delany-Crowe, T.N. (2016). Understanding Australian Policies on Public Health. Canberra: The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.^[11]
• Baum, F.E., Newman, L.A., Biedrzycki, K.R. and Patterson, J. (2010). Can a regional government's social inclusion initiative contribute to the quest for health equity? Health Promotion International.^[12]
• Newman, L.A., Biedrzycki, K.R. and Baum, F.E. (2010). Digital technology access and use among socially and economically disadvantaged groups in South Australia. Journal of Community Informatics, 6(2).^[13]

Books

• Book: Baum, Frances . The new public health . 2016 . Oxford University Press . 4th . 978-0-19-559629-8 .
• Book: Baum, Frances . Governing for Health: Advancing health and equity through policy and advocacy . 2019 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-025897-9 .

Awards, honours and recognition

• 2017 – Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS)^[14]
• 2016 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)^[15]
• 2008 – Australian Research Council Federation Fellow
• 2007 – Fellow, Australian Health Promotion Association^[16]
• 2006 – Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
• 1999–2000 Life Member and past National President, Public Health Association of Australia^[17]
• 1989 – Catherine Helen Spence Memorial Scholarship^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fran Baum. 2014-01-23. APO. 2019-08-02.
2. Web site: Professor Fran Baum AO. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. 2019-08-09.
3. Web site: Why the federal budget is bad for health and worse for society. Baum. Fran. The Conversation. 2019-08-02.
4. Web site: Australia's Health 2016 report card: experts respond. Baum. Fran. Moodie. Rob. The Conversation. 2019-08-02. Duckett. Stephen.
5. Web site: Three charts on: the NBN and Australia's digital divide. Schram. Ashley. Baum. Fran. The Conversation. 2019-08-02. Fisher. Matt. Harris. Patrick. Friel. Sharon. Freeman. Toby.
6. Web site: Social determinants – how class and wealth affect our health. Friel. Sharon. The Conversation. 2019-08-02.
7. Web site: Fair taxation and health. 2015-05-06. Radio National. 2019-08-01.
8. Web site: De-industrialisation. 2017-11-21. Radio National. 2019-08-01.
9. Book: Baum, Fran. The New Public Health. Oxford University Press. 2015. 9780195588088. 4th. South Melbourne, Vic.. 906933300.
10. Web site: Professor Frances Elaine Baum. honours.pmc.gov.au. 2019-08-02.
11. Web site: Professor Fran Baum. Flinders University. 2019-08-01.
12. Web site: Scopus – Login. www.scopus.com. 2019-08-01.
13. Digital Technology Access and Use among Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups in South Australia The Journal of Community Informatics.
14. Web site: Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. October 2016. Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. 11 September 2019.
15. Web site: Congratulations to Prof Fran Baum! – Australian Health Promotion Association. www.healthpromotion.org.au. 2019-08-01.
16. Web site: Awards – Fellows of the Association. Australian Health Promotion Association. 2019-08-02.
17. Web site: Board – Past Presidents. Public Health Association of Australia Inc. 2019-08-02.
18. Web site: Previous scholars and their projects. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423122558/http://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-skills-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/catherine-helen-spence/previous-scholars-and-their-projects. 2016-04-23. 2021-10-17. Government of South Australia.