We’re pleased to announce that Dr Kēri Rātima (Whakatōhea, Ngāti Pūkeko, Tūhoe) has been appointed as the College’s new Pou Whirinaki.
The Pou Whirinaki provides clinical and pastoral support to all the Māori GP registrars in our specialist training programme, the General Practice Education Programme.
As our College’s second Tumuaki Māori and former Chair of our Māori representative group Te Akoranga a Māui, Kēri has informed and influenced our commitment to Māori health for many years. She was instrumental in developing our first Māori health strategy - He Ihu Waka, He Ihu Whenua.
A descendant of Chief Mokomoko, Kēri lives in the Eastern Bay of Plenty where she works as a GP and Medical Educator. She has worked in general practice in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and more recently in Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki and Murupara.
Having gained Fellowship of the College in 2001, Kēri went on to complete a Fellowship in Public Health Medicine and Post-graduate Certificate in Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University. She continues to study towards a Post-graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine.
Throughout her medical career, Kēri has been involved with teaching, recruiting and mentoring future GPs and Māori health leaders.
Kēri takes over from Dr Rāwiri Keenan, who has left the role to take up a research opportunity looking into cultural competency and equity in primary care. The College thanks Rāwiri for his long-standing commitment and service as Pou Whirinaki.