Outgoing Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has been awarded Honorary Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.
The honour was presented this evening, after Dr Bloomfield’s keynote address to delegates at GP22: the Conference for General Practice, currently being held in Christchurch.
Honorary Fellowship of the College is given to individuals of distinction who have made an outstanding contribution to general practice or the medical profession in general.
Dr Bloomfield was nominated by a member of the College for “his tireless work as the Director General of Health using evidence-based decision-making to inform Government.
“He has communicated with vulnerability, honesty, compassion, and logic, and re-enforced public health messaging by being a strong role model.
“He is highly respected within the College, he has been an advocate for general practice throughout the pandemic, and very responsive to the College on matters raised, addressing serious issues appropriately and in a timely way.”
College President Dr Samantha Murton, who presented Dr Bloomfield with this honour says, “I am delighted to award Dr Bloomfield with his Honorary Fellowship today.
“I have appreciated his calm, steadfast approach over what has been an unprecedented few years and agree with the sentiment that he has been an advocate for the general practice and rural hospital medicine workforce throughout the pandemic.
“Despite the challenges and the pressures that the pandemic threw at the health sector, I have enjoyed working with Dr Bloomfield on the COVID-19 response and wish him all the best with his next endeavour.”
The College’s full Fellowship and Award ceremony will be held tomorrow evening, Saturday 23 July.