Professor Ranta is an academic stroke neurologist and Head of Department of Medicine at University of Otago Wellington. Her current research focuses on translational stroke research to optimize stroke care quality and access, with a strong emphasis on addressing health inequities, especially for rural, Māori and Pacific Peoples.

Anna has led many stroke research programs and collaborates widely across New Zealand, Australia, and globally resulting in >200 journal articles and conference abstracts.

She also leads the New Zealand National Stroke Registry, is the immediate past President of the Neurological Association of New Zealand, the current Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand and Board Member of the World Stroke Organisations and Medical Director and Board Member of the New Zealand Stroke Foundation.

She serves on the Stroke, Neurology, and JAHA editorial boards and stroke section editor for Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.