Meet our journos

Curiosity has driven the working life of New Zealand Doctor editor Barbara Fountain, taking her from clinical research, through scientific publishing to land in journalism. She worked at the Otago Daily Times and the business weekly The Independent before joining New Zealand Doctor in 1996, taking time out to have a family. Barbara loves print but also enjoys the grand access to knowledge and stories afforded by the internet. She has previously researched science reporting and the use of official information laws, and in 2016 was the inaugural Editorial Leader of the Year at the national Canon Media Awards. In 2015, she co-founded The Health Media with business partner Anna Mickell, to take over publication of New Zealand Doctor and Pharmacy Today 

Originally from Northern Ireland, Patrice Dougan cut her teeth on regional daily newspapers, before jumping on a plane and moving to New Zealand in 2012. Since then she has worked at TVNZ's One News website, NZME News Service and the New Zealand Herald, mostly focusing on live and online news coverage. She did a brief stint as education reporter at the Herald, before moving into a chief reporter's role. Patrice joined New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa in January 2023, with more than 15 years' experience in daily and online news. She lives in Auckland with her partner and two children

Martin Johnston is an experienced journalist. He worked in daily newspapers for 29 years, mainly at the New Zealand Herald, before coming to New Zealand Doctor. At the Herald he served up a long doses of health news, covering the topic for 17 years – since before DHBs were created. Martin lives with his lovely partner Kaz, with whom he has two adult children. When he gets a chance, Martin loves to go tramping, skiing or rock climbing

Southern correspondent Fiona Cassie brings with her 17 years experience as first journalist and then editor of former magazine and website Nursing Review. Despite living in Christchurch, and so many years immersed in nursing, she likes to think she isn’t one-eyed and brings with her an institutional memory on a wide range of health sector issues. Taranaki-born and bred she has been a journalist for more than three decades in Napier, London, Nelson and, since 1996, in Christchurch. In 2016 she was a finalist in the inaugural NIB Health Journalism Scholarship (Senior). She works four days a week as the Southern correspondent for New Zealand Doctor

Alan Perrott came to journalism relatively late and rejoiced in becoming INL Young Reporter of the Year at the tender age of 31. After five years with the East & Bays Courier he moved to the New Zealand Herald in 2000. After five years in the newsroom, he shifted into feature writing and spent ten years as staff writer for the paper’s weekend glossy, Canvas. In 2015, he left to try his hand at freelancing and wrote a book, At the Edge of Art, for Wellington engineering company Dunning Thornton. After finding himself missing the energy of a newsroom he has found his way into New Zealand Doctor. With a lovely wife and two young boys (late again), he maintains his sanity by occasionally DJing as The House of Bamboo.

Stephen started with New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa in May 2023. He has experience in both online and print journalism and has previously worked for Stuff and interest.co.nz. He honed his health reporting skills as a Local Democracy Reporter covering south Auckland

Zach Thompson is an Auckland-based writer and journalist who before joining New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa in July 2023 wrote for an enterprise technology publication. Initially wanting to work in the film industry, he studied screenwriting before pursuing journalism. Zach brings a love of writing and storytelling to his work, passionate about ensuring all voices are heard. In his spare time, Zach loves going to movies with friends, designing and building his own Lego creations, and going to concerts and comedy shows. He was also born with a disability so has plenty of firsthand experience in Aotearoa’s healthcare system.