The Roster Te Rārangi: Edition 3

All about equity
The equity director at the new Cancer Control Agency in the Ministry of Health is Michelle Mako, who early in her career was a cardiac care nurse. Ms Mako recently completed 16 months as principal analyst with the Health and Disability System Review. She has a masters in public health, worked in public health policy at the ministry for eight years, and briefly led health promotion for the Cancer Society. She then focused on Māori and Pacific health outcomes during 14 years in senior roles with the Health Promotion Agency.

Leading from the front
South African-trained anaesthetist Vanessa Beavis played a major role in preparing Auckland City Hospital for COVID-19. Dr Beavis talked to RNZ here about that work. She began working at the hospital in 1993 and, for the past 18 years, was head of perioperative services. She has just left to enjoy a new role, president of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. She is an honorary senior lecturer in anaesthesiology at the University of Auckland.

It's iwi health first
Helmut Modlik (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Tama, Te Ati Awa) has left primary care IT organisation Patients First to become chief executive at Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, headquartered in Porirua. He took over from Tā Matiu Rei just as COVID-19 restrictions intensified, affecting the iwi, as well as the rūnanga’s primary health organisation, medical and social care teams. Mr Modlik has worked for the then Health Funding Authority and the Ministry of Health, served on boards such as Pharmac’s, led technology and education organisations, and lectured and consulted on management

Beyond the ED
Emma Lawrey might well have found working in an emergency department quite stimulating enough. But Dr Lawrey is also clinical director for NZMAT, New Zealand’s WHO-accredited medical disaster response field hospital, and has worked for the WHO assisting ministries of health in the Pacific and Asia build similar capacity. A part–time consultant emergency physician at Auckland City Hospital, she is chief executive of a new organisation, the MAS Foundation – the charitable arm of medical insurer MAS.

Aussie rules
Former National health minister Jonathan Coleman vacated the boss’ office at Acurity Health Group to become one of the company’s board directors. The new chief executive, Sue Channon, leads Evolution Healthcare, Acurity’s Australian owner, itself majority-owned by Pacific Equity Partners. Ms Channon started her career as a nurse in Whanganui, and has led numerous health companies in Australia. Acurity owns and operates Wakefield and Bowen Hospitals in Wellington, Royston Hospital in Hawke’s Bay, and mental health facility Re-centre in Auckland.

Top COVID-19 watchdog
The NZ Transport Agency chair has led too many ventures to list, including the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and was an influential Treaty of Waitangi negotiator for the Crown in the 1990s. He is Sir Brian Roche, recently appointed by health minister David Clark to chair the Contact Tracing Assurance Committee. Sir Brian chaired an advisory group that reported to Dr Clark last year, and was a member of the Health and Disability System Review Panel.

Dr Blakey back on board
Two candidates took on Jo Blakey recently when she stood for re-election to the board of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs. The college this month announced Dr Blakey, a Whangaparaoa GP, was returned, with 823 votes, ahead of Chandra Jayaraman (south Auckland, 408) and Grahame Jelley (Northland, 254). Voter turnout was 31.5 per cent. Dr Blakey will end her first term and begin her second at the conclusion of the AGM on 25 July, the college said.

Spread the word
I’m pleased to report that, after just two editions, The Roster Te Rārangi has grown a healthy subscriber base of 320. But perhaps some of your colleagues and associates aren’t getting our news? Let them know via email, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, or even in a good, old-fashioned, face-to-face chat – one metre apart courtesy COVID-19 Alert Level 2. I look forward to receiving your tips on people to include in two weeks’ time. Stay safe. – Virginia McMillan, editor, vmcmillan@nzdoctor.co.nz or 021 914 699.