Dr Polianna Albuquerque

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and clinical researcher with a focus on medical education, innovation, and culturally safe practice. Her current research centres on two initiatives: “Artificial Intelligence in Health Education: Enhancing Case-Based Learning,” and “Portfolio-Based and Mentoring-Supported Learning: Aligning Accreditation Standards and Cultural Safety in Medical Education.” She holds a PhD and Master’s in Medical Sciences from the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, where she also completed her medical degree and specialist training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. She is a certified nephrologist by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology. Her international experience includes research with the Australian Translational Program in Clinical Toxicology at the University of Sydney, supported by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). Prior to CDU, she worked as a nephrologist and academic at Instituto Dr. José Frota and the University of Fortaleza, and continues to collaborate with the Brazilian Ministry of Health in training on envenoming management in remote regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she contributed to frontline care with a focus on renal support. Her clinical and research expertise includes acute kidney injury, toxicology, and tropical diseases, with emphasis on non-traditional biomarkers and toxin-related kidney injury. Her work integrates clinical expertise with educational research to advance innovative, mentorship-driven, and culturally responsive medical education, particularly in underserved settings.

Research Interests: 

• Portfolio-based and mentoring in medical education
• Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education
• Acute kidney injury, toxicology, and tropical diseases, with emphasis on non-traditional biomarkers and toxin-related kidney injury