Dr Gabriela Mena Ribadeneira

Researcher biography
Dr Gabriela Mena is an overseas-trained medical practitioner who currently works as Lecturer for Medical Education at the AME. After moving to Australia, Gabriela completed a Master of Public Health in 2016 and a PhD in 2022, both at the University of Queensland. Her PhD thesis explored the relationships between physical activity and women's reproductive health. Her research focuses on understanding the relationships between physical activity and reproductive health in women, ranging from pre-conception and reproductive health problems such as infertility and menstrual irregularities, to pregnancy and postpartum. This also includes investigating the associations between sedentary behaviour (e.g., sitting time) and body mass index (BMI) with reproductive health outcomes. She has a special interest on how physical activity can affect the reproductive system in young adult women who are trying to conceive, and she is passionate about promoting physical activity for health.
Gabriela's teaching experience ranges from tutor and practicum facilitator to course coordinator and lecturer at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in Australia and overseas, and across two languages. This has allowed her to experience teaching in different contexts and settings. Gabriela became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2022 and joined the UQ Academy for Medical Education in 2023.