Health Sciences at Otago

Manaaki Scholar Latu Mafi shares her experience of studying at Otago and why it's important to make the most of every opportunity 😎

Based in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Latu arrived in Dunedin from Tonga in 2023 at the start of Semester two 🇹🇴

She faced the personal challenge of having no connections here, and the academic challenge of starting a semester later than other students.

“I came to Dunedin with no family and virtually no friends. I was just this one person who came in the middle of the year, not knowing anyone. My solution to this was just ‘don’t say no’ to invitations unless I had school. If the reason I said no was because I was scared, that wasn’t a good enough reason. I really tried to participate in things, and soon enough, within a few weeks I was very comfortable at St Margaret’s College, and I made some really good friends.”

Latu was able to overcome the struggles that came with starting in semester two, by getting help from University course and career advisors, and doing Summer School so she would be able to finish her degree at the end of an academic year 🎓

Said yes, saw results From an “awkward” start to having a jampacked schedule – saying yes has resulted in Manaaki Scholar Latu Mafi making the most of every opportunity that has come her way during her time at Otago.

Global award for PhD student’s endometrial cancer research PhD student Tiffany Ilott has been awarded a prestigious US$10,000 Zonta Women in STEM Award for her research into endometrial cancer.

Prapitchaya Saimule says moving to Otago from Thailand to study has been the biggest challenge she ever faced, but it was absolutely worth it 😇

Graduating at the end of last year with a Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Technology, Prapitchaya had to navigate a new language, education system and culture, all while being away from her family.

What helped her navigate life in Dunedin was connecting with the University's support services which helped her establish connections, as well as staying in contact with family and friends back home.

Moving from Thailand at eighteen: Prapitchaya’s international student story At the age of 18, Prapitchaya Saimule moved from Thailand to New Ze...

Ngā mihi nui to the 16 Health Sciences academics who received Health Research Council grants totalling $23,234,278 🤯🤩

From research into cardiovascular care, through to developing new pathways for breast and ovarian cancer testing, Otago academics are working at the forefront of innovative research 😎

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division, Associate Professor Megan Gibbons, says this success demonstrates the high calibre of mahi Health Sciences academics are producing.

"At its core, research from the Division of Health Sciences focuses on creating health for people, thriving communities, and better outcomes," Megan says.

"The considerable amount of funding awarded to our academics in this grant round is testament to their determination and research excellence. I look forward to seeing how their projects develop and eventually work to impact the healthcare of both local and global communities."

Heart research gets a boost with HRC funding Otago heart researchers are on their way to developing potentially life-saving patient interventions, thanks to vital Health Research Council (HRC) funding.

Otago research project Ngā Kōrero Pono (The True and Honest Stories) has won the inaugural Hei Āhuru Mōwai Whānau Voice Award at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference held in Auckland in April 🤩

The project features 12 short videos in which whānau share their cancer journeys, and is a collaboration between the University’s Pōneke campus and Tū Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust at Kōkiri Marae in Wellington 🇳🇿

Lead researcher Cheryl Davies (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Mutunga ki Te Wharekauri, Ngāti Pikiao), from the Department of Public Health and manager of Tū Kotahi, says sharing the voices of whānau affected by cancer in an international Indigenous space felt incredibly meaningful 💜

“Winning the award was honestly very humbling. We were presenting alongside so many inspiring Indigenous researchers and clinicians from around the world, so it was a huge honour for our team and our wider kaupapa.”

Shining a light on whānau cancer journeys An Otago research project in which whānau share their cancer journeys on video has won the inaugural Hei Āhuru Mōwai Whānau Voice Award for best presentation at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference held in Auckland in April.

In this opinion editorial, Associate Professor Bernadette Huatau Jones (Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa) shares her expertise on how the Government's Window on Disability report stops short of delivering meaningful change.

As a disability researcher in the Department of Medicine on the Wellington campus, Bernadette says the report shows systemic failures that require meaningful and large-scale changes rather than incremental actions such as establishing working groups.

The report found disabled people in Aotearoa are dying at five times the rate of non-disabled people, with disabled Māori being 10 times more likely to die from treatable conditions.

Disabled people are experts in our own lives – listen to us Comment from Otago University: We can’t afford to respond to the crisis in disability health care with incremental change, says Bernadette Huatau Jones

Named after a previous principal of the School, the School of Physiotherapy has established the Billie McLeod Trust 😎

The Trust will split $15,000 per annum equally between tauira and kaimahi. This enables it to support both student vaccinations and rural clinical placements, as well as professional development for Professional Practice Fellows 🙌

The Dean of the School of Physiotherapy, Associate Professor Cathy Chapple, says she’s elated to see funds go to such worthy causes.

“While our School offers world-class teaching and research and is one of the oldest Physiotherapy Schools in the world, having been established in 1913, it is still a struggle accessing funding to continue our good work. This extends particularly to our Professional Practice Fellows, who can only apply for certain funding opportunities, yet they provide such an essential role as clinical supervisors for students on placement. That’s what makes the Billie McLeod Trust so special – it meets the needs of a community of physiotherapists who need funding opportunities in a way that directly leads to tangible outcomes they can immediately implement into the work they do," Cathy says.

New Trust a testament to physiotherapy’s past and future The School of Physiotherapy has established the Billie McLeod Trust to support student vaccinations and rural clinical placements, and professional development for Professional Practice Fellows.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Megan Gibbons (Ngāpuhi) is part of the Southern Engagement Group that got a sneak peak at how Dunedin's new hospital is taking shape 🤩

Megan says she is excited to see how the development continues and appreciates the opportunity to represent the Division's interests and role in making a healthier future for Aotearoa 😎

Boots and hi-vis on the ground at the New Dunedin Hospital | Project Whakatuputupu

Last week, representatives from the Southern Engagement Group (SEG) got to check out how the Outpatient Building is looking ahead of its opening later this year and stood on the newly laid foundation slabs of the Inpatient Building!

It's an exciting milestone to have our stakeholders visit our sites and share in our progress - we can't wait to welcome patients to the Outpatient Building towards the end of the year

SEG brings together stakeholders from Otago and Southland local government, public health and tertiary institutions, led by independent Chair John Gallaher.

We're looking forward to sharing more updates, progress and visits with our stakeholders and community

Stay tuned for more updates!

Ngā mihi nui to the alumni and kaimahi of the Division of Health Sciences whose service was recently recognised with a King’s Birthday Honour 🎉

Appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

➡️ Associate Professor Nicola Austin (MB ChB; DCH; Otago staff member), of Christchurch, for services to children’s health
➡️ Earle Kirton (BSc; BDS), of Upper Hutt, for services to rugby
➡️ Dr Yvonne LeFort (PGDipDigHeal), of Auckland, for services to breastfeeding medicine
➡️ Dr Colin Mantell (BMedSc; MB ChB), of Wānaka, for services to health education, obstetrics, and gynaecology

Appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

➡️ Dr Luk Chin (MB ChB), of Cambridge, for services to health and harness racing.
➡️ Dr Mark Fraundorfer (MB ChB), of Mount Maunganui, for services to health, particularly men's health.
➡️ Professor Marc Shaw (BMedSc; MB ChB), of Hamilton, for services to travel health.

Awarded a King's Service Medal:

➡️ Hanny Naus PGCertHealSc (End), of Wellington, for services to seniors and rainbow communities.
➡️ Dr Shanthi Selvakumar (DipObst), of Auckland, for services to migrant and refugee communities.

Ka mau te wehi!

Read about all 20 people with Otago connections recognised with King’s Birthday Honours below:

Breadth of Otago’s impact highlighted in King’s Birthday Honours The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka is proudly celebrating more than 20 alumni and staff recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.