The Bourne identity: GP to CMO: Doctor, interrupted, lands safely in community care, leadership

+Print Archive
Cover story

The Bourne identity: GP to CMO: Doctor, interrupted, lands safely in community care, leadership

NZ Doctor Joe Bourne
NZ Doctor Joe Bourne [Image: Tracy Stamatakos]

The chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health is still ‘Dr Joe’ to his patients in a low-cost kaupapa Māori health clinic. Joe Bourne talks to Fiona Cassie about his career path from London to Te Puke, as well as funding, family and football fandom

The first-time around, Joe Bourne lasted two days at medical school. “I had a place at the Royal Free Hospital in London and dropped out after a we