Dr. Mark Chia 

PhD in Ophthalmology

University College London

Medicine and Health

Mark Chia is an eye doctor with a passion for improving health equity amongst rural and Indigenous communities. He was awarded a Group of Eight Scholarship to study medicine at the University of Western Australia where he graduated with Honours. He completed a Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) at the University of Sydney, graduating as the top-scoring student. After working for two years as a junior doctor, Mark was excited to be offered his dream job – travelling outback WA delivering outreach eye care on the Lions Outback Vision Van. Away from his clinical work, Mark has held several health leadership positions, advocating for junior doctor wellbeing and mentoring junior medical graduates. He enjoys the challenge of competing in endurance events, including ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons. With his John Monash Scholarship, Mark intends to undertake a PhD in Ophthalmology at University College London, working in collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Lions Eye Institute. His research seeks to apply artificial intelligence to advanced eye scans to improve the early diagnosis and prevention of diabetes in rural Australia.