The Roster Te Rārangi: Edition 12

Back in the thick of it
Stephen McKernan was this week appointed to lead a health system reform “transition unit” in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The unit will be made up of health experts and public servants from various agencies, and will plan changes sought by the Government as it responds to the Health and Disability System Review Panel report. An advisory partner at consultancy EY, Mr McKernan was director-general of health for four years until August 2010. Prior to that, he was chief executive of Counties Manukau and Hutt Valley DHBs.

Dream job for nurse leader
Margareth Broodkoorn (Ngāpuhi) was born in Rawene Hospital, and returns to the site early next year as chief executive officer of Hauora Hokianga, the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust. This fulfils a moemoea (dream) to give back to the community of her birth, says a media release from the trust. Ms Broodkoorn has been chief nursing officer at the ministry since February 2019. After 10 years as a nurse, she moved into leadership and management roles. She lectured at Manukau Institute of Technology and the University of Auckland, and then served as director of nursing and midwifery at Northland DHB.

COVID scrutiny team named
Api Talemaitoga, Rawiri McKree Jansen and Philip Hill have joined co-chairs Sir Brian Roche and Heather Simpson on the COVID-19 Surveillance and Testing Strategy Group. They will report to health minister Chris Hipkins on the implementation of updated testing and surveillance plans. Dr Talemaitoga is a south Auckland GP who has been chief adviser, Pacific at the Ministry of Health. Dr Jansen, clinical director of the National Hauora Coalition and a Papakura Marae GP, chairs the Māori COVID-19 group, Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā. Professor Hill holds the McAuley chair in international health at the University of Otago and is a public health and infectious diseases specialist.

Looking beneath the surface
Auckland chartered accountant Stuart Bilbrough has had a long career in finance, but has another life as a SCUBA diver and is a member of the New Zealand Underwater Association board. Mr Bilbrough is the new chief executive at specialist health and aged care provider Radius Care. He was chief financial officer at Radius from 2010 to 2017 before a stint at Tamaki Health Group Ltd, also in the top financial role. Radius founder and managing director Brien Cree is now an executive director.

GPs' equity influencer
Te Oraiti Reedy (Ngāti Porou) is the new tumuaki and head of equity at the Royal New Zealand College of GPs. A former education lecturer and advisor, Ms Reedy worked for the NZQA for four years. She then turned to IT project and programme management. She has for the past four years been tumuaki of Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa – Māori Medical Practitioners Association.

Advisor to Clark at WHO
University of Auckland medical and public health graduate Sudhvir Singh has begun a new role at the World Health Organization in Switzerland. Dr Singh is special advisor to former prime minister Helen Clark, co-chair of the independent review into the international health response to COVID-19. While completing Royal Australasian College of Physicians examinations at Auckland City Hospital, Dr Singh was a high-profile director of public health/climate action group Generation Zero. In 2015, he joined EAT, an Oslo-headquartered sustainable food systems advocacy forum; he is on sabbatical from a senior role there.

A fresh look at mental health
Clinical psychologist Tania Wilson (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi) has been appointed general manager of Fresh Minds, part of Auckland primary health organisation ProCare Health. Ms Wilson will oversee Fresh Minds' primary mental health and wellbeing services, the health service and psychology programme in several Auckland secondary schools, and the integrated primary mental health and addictions model of care rolling out to ProCare general practices. Ms Wilson has held senior roles at Waitematā DHB and Auckland University Services, and with non-government organisations.

Moving on after 16 years
Noted drug policy commentator Ross Bell starts next month as the ministry's manager, public health capability. Mr Bell makes the move after more than 16 years as the New Zealand Drug Foundation’s executive director. He has a masters degree in development studies and research experience in that field and in health. Mr Bell has also worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was the NZ Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux’ social policy manager between 2000 and 2004.

Radiologists' college is recruiting
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists has a new interim chief executive, Mark Nevin, while it looks for a permanent replacement for Natalia Vukolova. A former optometrist who also has economics and politics degrees, Mr Nevin comes to the Sydney-based position from the role of senior executive officer, faculties, strategy and advocacy with the college.

Epidemiologically linked...
With “epidemiologically” a word heard daily at COVID-19 briefings, it is a high-profile time for the University of Auckland to seek a new head for the School of Population Health. Its departments include general practice and primary health care, and epidemiology and biostatistics. Public health physician Robert Scragg is the incumbent. ProCare Health is also recruiting as seven-year veteran chief executive Steve Boomert intends to leave to pursue governance roles. Waitaki District Health Services has a new chief executive with Phil Jamieson replacing Ruth Kibble (now South Canterbury DHB’s director, primary health partnerships). As always, I appreciate your support for The Roster Te Rārangi (non-subscribers can join up here)!

– Virginia McMillan, editor; phone 021 914 699;
email vmcmillan@nzdoctor.co.nz