Dr. Mithilesh Dronavalli

An Accredited Statistician (AStat), Data Scientist and medical doctor with nine years of experience in applying advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to clinical, public health and social research. Expertise in managing and analysing large-scale population datasets (1.8 million+ records) using R and Stata.

Proven track record of leading research projects from conception to publication with a focus on statistics and data science. Statistical author on 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals with over 750 citations.

My research is in the areas of poverty, crime, social disadvantage, prenatal drug abuse, prematurity, children with disabilities, mental health, out of home care, addiction, Aboriginal Health, communicable diseases, cancer, heart disease, smoking cessation, breastfeeding, health and well-being, health education and aged care.

Skills & Education

Evaluating Mental Health Services for the Socially Disadvantaged including constructing Simulation Models in AnyLogic
Evaluating the effectiveness of GP care plans in reducing metabolic risk for patients with serious mental illness.
Predictors and outcomes of change in socio-economic position over time and ensuing patterns of illness and receiving treatment.

Statistical / Database Programming R, Stata, Python, PL/SQL, SAS Reproducible well commented segmented code

Statistical Consulting Clear written and verbal communication, interested, organised, excellent problem solving,

Study Design Critical Appraisal, Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analysis, Meta-regression

Statistical Techniques: Generalised Linear Models, Longitudinal/Correlated Outcome Data/Multilevel Modelling, Survival Analysis, Multiple Imputation, generating and simulating
data

Causal Inference Directed Acyclic Graphs, Propensity Scores, Inverse Probability Treatment
Weights, Regression Discontinuity, Differences in Differences, Instrumental Variables, Mendelian Randomisation, Causal Mediation Analysis (incl. sensitivity analysis, time to event,
multiple mediators)

Machine learning Random Forest, Longitudinal K-means, SVM, KNN, Classification and Regression Trees, Linear and generalised models for prediction,

Visualisations Qlik, RStudio (for interactive live visualisations)

Teaching and Supervision of Research Students

Data Management of large linked population data

RCTs Clinical Trials Design, Sample Size, Randomisation Schedule,

Simulation Modelling AnyLogic: Agent Based Simulation, Discrete Events and System Dynamics

Accredited Statistician since 2022: (Statistical Society of Australia)
Member Profile: https://www.statsoc.org.au/Sys/PublicProfile/48202292/4702721
Criteria: Degree in Statistics +
6 years of progressively advanced Statistical Experience + Submission of Major Works +
Maintaining Continual Professional Development + 5 year re-accreditations

Risk and Treatment Factors of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip

Rotations: Rural and Indigenous Health, HIV, Public Health Unit (Communicable Disease and Environmental Health), Childhood Disability, Addiction and Pharmacoepi (TGA)

Coursework: Environmental Health Risk Assessments | Framing Indigenous Health| Health Promotion| Health Policy| Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Disease| Qualitative Research Methods| Environmental Health Risk Assessments | Introduction to teaching and supervision | Grant Writing | PRINCE 2 : Foundations and Practitioners | Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Certified as of 2022 Oct

Honours Thesis: A Pharmacological mechanism for the Clinical Benefits of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: Analyses of randomised controlled trials

Taught me broad content and diverse perspectives in a multicultural environment and how to LEARN and THINK.

Experiences

Perinatal Drug Exposure, prematurity and inhaled nitric oxide treatment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, unsupervised clustering of neonatal ICU infants and short-term/long-term outcomes/cost to health services/education /, out-of-home care outcomes and service utilisation for babies and their mothers. Results of a population birth cohort 'Joining the Dots' of 1.8 million babies and their mothers in NSW between 2001 and 2020. Methods focused on causal mediation analysis.
Supervising Clinicians and Honours Research Students as a Medical Statistician and co-supervisor. Two of my honours students were Gold Medallists in their seminar series.

For Phase 1 and Early Phase 2 Studies in neuroleptic/psychotropic/analgesic medication with a focus on psychedelics:
Statistical Analysis Plans
Data Analysis
Randomisation Schedule
Sample Size Calculations

Innovation in Data Related Planning and Tasks
Advising Sponsors in Sponsor Meetings

Approving and Regulating Medical Devices

Leading the external communications team for answering questions from the public regarding the Sydney COVID Lockdown
Leading a team in the management of Adverse Effects following Immunisation for COVID
Contributing to the containment of a COVID outbreak in Lockdown
As an Investigator, designing and overseeing a real world implementation RCT of Co-designed Universal Micro-messaging Health Education Videos for Breastfeeding in Rural Mothers in South Africa.

Investigating the role of Social Disadvantage in Criminal Trajectories of those using Drugs as the index offence.
Evaluation of an Aboriginal Cultural Competency Program for non-Aboriginal Drug Rehabs
Supervising an Aboriginal PhD Student in research for a Continuous Quality Improvement of Aboriginal Residential Drug Rehabs
RCT Evaluating Health Education Videos for Breastfeeding delivered by "Mentor Mothers" for Poor Mothers in South Africa. In collaboration with Stanford University and Heidelberg University

Assessing the effectiveness of oseltamivir prophylaxis in preventing Influenza outbreaks in Aged Care Facilities.
Estimating Childhood Disability in Southwest Sydney and advocating a state-wide Child Disability Register
Outbreak Control (eg Measles; Gastro in a school, child care or aged care facility; Influenza in an Aged Care Facility)
Educating district aged care facility managers ad nursing staff on managing and preventing the spread of influenza outbreaks in a one day teaching session
Environmental Health Risk Assessments (PFAS, M12 noise and vibration, Establish Surveillance for Lead Notification with a high-risk Lead Battery Manufacturer, Mercury in Fish)
Speeding up the management of Syphilis notification through automating repetitive data entry tasks using R and Adobe Optical Character Recognition for data extraction and processing.
Teaching and upskilling staff in research methods and assisting the Medical Epidemiologist in reporting and surveillance work (Annual STI report | Published Meta-Analysis of Gonorrhoea prevalence and antibiotic resistance for studies in the past 30 years in Australia and New Zealand)
Assessing the need for screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection for refugee children under 2 years

Worked in a high turn over Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre attached to an Emergency Department.
Worked in Addiction Dual Diagnosis, Old Age Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry.
Completed 3 year Education Program in Psychiatry at the Brain and Mind Research Institute
Completed the Opioid Substitution Treatment Accreditation Course

Systematic Review, Meta Analysis and Safety Filter

HIV research and gaining exposure to HIV medicine as well as training and enabling staff in research methods.
HIV Complexity - Described the increasing burden of comorbidities in patients with HIV, where care needs a multi-disciplinary team approach. Used directed acyclic graphs.
HIV Smoking Audit - Predicting which patients will benefit most from a smoking cessation intervention
Completed the HIV Prescriber Course

Systematic Review as the first author to assess measurement tools of general health and wellbeing.
Commissioned review of Sexual Health Services in Western Australia by the Department of Health in a team.
Designed and Delivered Seminars: 1. Understanding and Evaluating Advanced Quantitative Methods 2. Use of Social Media for Public Health
Co-ordinating principal investigator on a complex GP Audit of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome after discharge from hospital
National Finalist for Gerry Murphy Prize at RACP Congress

Worked in Psychiatry treating Aboriginal People with mental illness from remote areas.
Took the history and mental state of patients and liaised with the multidisciplinary team. Prescribed medication, performed on-call duties, did ECT under supervision
Taught Medical students about psychiatry regularly by teaching them psychiatric theory and interview skills

Developed a Quantitative Data Analysis Plan for the 45 and Up study in the pharmacoepidemiology field.
Investigated a New Indication for a cholesterol-lowering agent.

Worked empathically under pressure, Treated quite severe mental illness
Caring for mentally ill patients under consultant psychiatrist supervision
o Elicit History and Mental State to adjust medication. o Communicate with the multidisciplinary team and family+carers of the patient. o Clozapine and Outpatient Clinics

Interests

I led a 15-member team to give advice to the public and key stakeholders related to COVID, and adverse event reporting for the COVID vaccine in the Sydney COVID LOCKDOWN.
President of the Sydney Northern District Table Tennis Association including, 600 players, 80 teams, 15 clubs. This includes working with the committee, improving processes, uploading scores to a global server using code and organising events.

Conferences and events

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(Speaker)

National Rural Health (Oral) 2015 | Asia Pacific Heart Failure (2 Posters) 2008 | RACP 2016 (Oral: Gerry Murphy Prize) |Australian Public Health 2019 (Oral) UN Datathon (Education Track): https://youtu.be/QwGhcoJ17JY?

Publications

ORCID-ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5084-5023
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Dronavalli%2C+M
https://youtu.be/sOhtbcO0sSQ My Public Lecture on Causation
Gruber V, Morakeas S, Hinder M, Drevhammar T, Dronavalli M, Tracy MB. Leak during term neonatal CPAP stabilisation: does resuscitation device design affect delivered PEEP - a bench study. BMJ Paediatr Open 2025; 9(1).: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2025-003679
Rees P, Dronavalli M, Carter B, et al. School outcomes after HIE: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2025.: https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-328346
Lawler K, Dronavalli M, Uebel H, et al. (2025) Association between out-of-home care and mortality in children with prenatal drug exposure: a retrospective population-based cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Epub ahead of print 20250331. doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2025-328474.
Rees P, Dronavalli M, Carter B, Bajuk B, Burns L, Dickson M, Eastwood J, Hossain S, Lawler K, Lee E, Munasinghe S, Page A, Uebel H, Dicair L, Green C, Gale C, Oei JL. School outcomes after HIE: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Jun 8:fetalneonatal-2024-328346. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328346. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40484626. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-328346
Dronavalli, Mithilesh, et al. "Improving metabolic risk in patients with mental illness through ‘mental health care plans’ in primary health care." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2025): 00048674251337030. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674251337030
Guajardo, M. G. U., Mukumbang, F. C., Dronavalli, M., Woolfenden, S., Parcsi, L., McDougall, B., ... & Schneider, C. H. (2025). Innovative Policy Supports for Integration in Health and Social Care Focused on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations in Australia: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-025-01697-8
Gruber, V., Tracy, M. B., Hinder, M. K., Morakeas, S., Dronavalli, M., & Drevhammar, T. (2024). What CPAP to use in the delivery room? Bench comparison of two methods to provide continuous positive airways pressure in neonates. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 8(1), e002948. doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002948
Lee, E., Schofield, D., Dronavalli, M., Lawler, K., Uebel, H., Burns, L., . . . Oei, J. L. (2024). Health Care Needs and Costs for Children Exposed to Prenatal Substance Use to Adulthood. JAMA Pediatrics, 178(9), 888-898. doi: http://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2281
Uebel, H., Dronavalli, M., Lawler, K., Lee, E., Bajuk, B., Burns, L., . . . Oei, J. L. (2024). School performance in children with prenatal drug exposure and out-of-home care in NSW, Australia: a retrospective population-based cohort study. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 8(7), 500-509. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00076-2
Lawler, K., Dronavalli, M., Page, A., Lee, E., Uebel, H., Bajuk, B., . . . Oei, J. L. (2024). 'Joining the Dots: Linking Prenatal Drug Exposure to Childhood and Adolescence' - research protocol of a population cohort study. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 8(1), e002557. doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002557
Uribe, G., Dronavalli, M., Katz, I., Page, A., Wolfenden, S., Gillespie, J., . . . Schneider, C. H. (n.d.). Integrated health and social care with a CALD focus: a service mapping study in Sydney Metropolitan. International Journal of Integrated Care, 23(S1), 206. doi: http://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.icic23076
Conaty, S. J., Ghosh, S., Ashraf, K., Taylor, K. H., Truman, G., Noonan, H., . . . Jalaludin, B. (2023). Heat illness presentations to emergency departments in Western Sydney: surveillance for environmental, personal and behavioural risk factors. Public Health Research and Practice, 33(4). doi: http://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3342331
Adam, M., Kwinda, Z., Dronavalli, M., Leonard, E., Nguyễn, V. K., Tshivhase, V., . . . Pillay, Y. (2023). Effect of Short, Animated Video Storytelling on Maternal Knowledge and Satisfaction in the Perinatal Period in South Africa: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of medical Internet research, 25, e47266. doi: http://doi.org/10.2196/47266
Dronavalli, M., Page, A., Sperandei, S., Uribe, G., Huckel Schneider, C., & Eastwood, J. (2023). Determinants and health outcomes of trajectories of social mobility in Australia. SSM - Population Health, 21, 101336. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101336
Wetherell, L., Kathurusinghe, S., Dior, U., Szabo, R., Gilmartin, C., Polyakov, A., . . . Catarina Ang, W. (2022). POMMS: Pre-operative misoprostol in myomectomy surgery: A randomised controlled pilot study. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 276, 98-101. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.008
Leonard, E., Kwinda, Z., Baernighausen, T., Dronavalli, M., Adam, M., & Pillay, Y. (2022). Optimizing knowledge and behavioral intention of women and their partners in the perinatal period in South Africa: a randomized control trial study protocol in the Tshwane district, Gauteng province, South Africa. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1224. doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13600-3
James, D. B., Lee, K. S. K., Dronavalli, M., Courtney, R. J., Conigrave, K. M., Conigrave, J. H., & Shakeshaft, A. (2022). Predictors of length of treatment, discharge reason, and re-admission to Aboriginal alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation services in New South Wales, Australia. Drug and Alcohol Review, 41(3), 603-615. doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13388
Adam, M., Johnston, J., Job, N., Dronavalli, M., Le Roux, I., Mbewu, N., . . . Bärnighausen, T. (2021). Evaluation of a community-based mobile video breastfeeding intervention in Khayelitsha, South Africa: The Philani MOVIE cluster-randomized controlled trial. PLoS Medicine, 18(9), e1003744. doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003744
Fletcher-Lartey, S., Lord, H., Dronavalli, M., Alexander, K., Ghosh, S., Thomas, J., . . . Pal, N. (2020). Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in N. gonorrhoea in Australia: Systematic review and meta-regression analysis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 101, 41. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.139
Dronavalli, M., Lord, H., Alexander, K., Boonwaat, L., Pal, N., & Fletcher-Lartey, S. M. (2020). Effectiveness of oseltamivir prophylaxis in influenza outbreaks in residential aged care. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 10(2), 184-189. doi: http://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.200402.001
Ghosh, S., Dronavalli, M., & Raman, S. (2020). Tuberculosis infection in under-2-year-old refugees: Should we be screening? A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56(4), 622-629. doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14701
Fletcher-Lartey, S., Dronavalli, M., Alexander, K., Ghosh, S., Boonwaat, L., Thomas, J., . . . Pal, N. (2019). Trends in antimicrobial resistance patterns in neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia and New Zealand: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Antibiotics, 8(4), 191. doi: http://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8040191
Chan, D. J., Furner, V., Smith, D. E., Dronavalli, M., Bopage, R. I., Post, J. J., & Bhardwaj, A. K. (2018). Non-AIDS complexity amongst patients living with HIV in Sydney: Risk factors and health outcomes. AIDS Research and Therapy, 15(1), 6. doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-018-0193-z
Bhagwat, M. M., Woods, J. A., Dronavalli, M., Hamilton, S. J., & Thompson, S. C. (2016). Evidence-based interventions in primary care following acute coronary syndrome in Australia and New Zealand: A systematic scoping review. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 16(1). doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-016-0388-y
Dronavalli, M., Bhagwat, M. M., Hamilton, S., Gilles, M., Garton-Smith, J., & Thompson, S. C. (2017). Findings from a clinical audit in regional general practice of management of patients following acute coronary syndrome. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 23(2), 170-177. doi: http://doi.org/10.1071/PY15191
Dronavalli, M., & Thompson, S. C. (2015). A systematic review of measurement tools of health and well-being for evaluating community-based interventions. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 69(8), 805-815. doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-205491
Dronavalli, M., & Thompson, S. C. (2015). A systematic review of measurement tools of health and well-being for evaluating community-based interventions. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. doi: http://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-205491
Fricke, T. A., D'Udekem, Y., Richardson, M., Thuys, C., Dronavalli, M., Ramsay, J. M., . . . Konstantinov, I. E. (2012). Outcomes of the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: 25 years of experience. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 94(1), 139-145. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.03.019
Vilalta, A., Sahuquillo, J., Merino, M. A., Poca, M. A., Garnacho, A., Martínez-Valverde, T., & Dronavalli, M. (2011). Normobaric hyperoxia in traumatic brain injury: Does brain metabolic state influence the response to hyperoxic challenge?. Journal of Neurotrauma, 28(7), 1139-1148. doi: http://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2010.1720
Yong, M. S., D'Udekem, Y., Robertson, T., Horton, S., Dronavalli, M., Brizard, C., . . . Konstantinov, I. E. (2011). Outcomes of surgery for simple total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in neonates. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 91(6), 1921-1927. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.12.069
Solana, E., Poca, M. A., Sahuquillo, J., Benejam, B., Junqué, C., & Dronavalli, M. (2010). Cognitive and motor improvement after retesting in normal-pressure hydrocephalus: A real change or merely a learning effect? Clinical article. Journal of Neurosurgery, 112(2), 399-409. doi: http://doi.org/10.3171/2009.4.JNS081664
Sheffield, L. J., Irving, P., Gupta, A., Byron, K., Macrae, F. A., Phillimore, H., . . . Sparrow, M. (2009). Thiopurine methyltransferase and thiopurine metabolite testing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are taking thiopurine drugs. Pharmacogenomics, 10(7), 1091-1099. doi: http://doi.org/10.2217/pgs.09.60

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Medical Biostatistician/Data Scientist

PhD - Data Science

Western Sydney University

Masters of Biostatistics

Monash University

Skills in Data Science and Statistics

MPhil in Cancer Epidemiology

University of Sydney, NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre

Training in Public Health Medicine

Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine

MBBS BMedSc

University of Melbourne

High School Certificate

Fort St Selective High School

Medical Biostatistician

In-house Lead Biostatistician

Pharmacoepidemiologist

Senior Public Health Medicine Registrar in Communicable Diseases (Sydney COVID Lockdown)

Research Fellow (Biostatistics)

Medical Biostatistician and Public Health Medicine Registrar

Psychiatry Registrar

Pharmacoepidemiologist

Medical Biostatistician

Medical Biostatistician

Psychiatry Registrar

Research Fellow (Pharmacoepidemiology)

Psychiatry Registrar

Medical Internship

Leadership

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Major Works (28 Pub Med Publications) +750 Google Scholar citations, h-index: 10, i10-index: 10