Highest GP honour acknowledging contribution to workforce awarded to five deserving recipients
Distinguished Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) is awarded annually to Fellows for outstanding service to the College, the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine or the science or practice of medicine.
Distinguished Fellows embody the College’s motto ‘cum scientia caritas’ - with knowledge, compassion, and have made sustained contributions to the health and wellbeing of their communities.
At Saturday evening’s Fellowship and Awards ceremony in Ōtautahi Christchurch, five deserving Fellows received their Distinguished Fellowship from College President Dr Luke Bradford.
The recipients are:
Dr Glenn Doherty, Ngāti Porou | Auckland
Dr Glenn Doherty's career as a specialist general practitioner, spanning over four decades, has exemplified clinical excellence, health equity advocacy and innovative leadership.
As the Chief Executive and Medical Director of the Tongan Health Society in Auckland, Dr Doherty has transformed a small clinic into a nationally acclaimed Pacific-led health provider.
His dedication to improving health outcomes has also been shown through his research on diabetes in community medicine and has established him as a national leader in chronic disease management and prevention.
Dr Doherty’s passion for health education and equity has benefitted the College through his training of GP registrars and his roles as a clinical examiner and member of the Education Advisory Group, who helped to shape the curriculum and standards for GP education.
“Dr Doherty’s contribution to the College ensuring cultural competency and equity in primary health care are prioritised in our training programme is crucial if we are to continue providing high-quality, respectful and empathetic care in our communities,” says Dr Luke Bradford, College President.
Dr Aniva Lawrence | Northland
Dr Aniva Lawrence is being recognised for her outstanding service, leadership and advocacy for Pacific health equity, community service and medical education on a local, national and international level.
Within the College Dr Lawrence has served as Chair of the National Advisory Council (NAC), an advisory committee made up of College members from across the regions, an ex-officio member of the College Board and as Deputy Chair of the Pacific Chapter.
Externally, Dr Lawrence has sat on boards at a Public Health Organisation (PHO) level and is an Academic Coordinator for the University of Auckland where she sat on the Board of Examiners.
In 2022, Dr Lawrence was awarded the Pacific Medical Association’s (PMA) Life Award for her contribution and service to the Pacific community.
Currently based in Whangarei, Dr Lawrence is passionate about rural health and equity within general practice and works clinically for Te Whareora o Tikipunga.
College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “Dr Lawrence’s drive to improve the health and wellbeing of her Pacific community is evident through her ongoing advocacy and governance work where she shares her perspectives and first-hand experiences on Pacific health to ensure the issues and solutions are heard across the sector.”
Dr Jason Tuhoe, Hauraki, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Pikiao | Tairāwhiti
Dr Jason Tuhoe is a highly respected leader in Te Ao Māori and primary care. He is an elected member of the College Board, former Chair of Te Akoranga a Māui, the College’s Māori representative group and has provided support and whanaungatanga to the membership as well as cultural and clinical advice on Māori health issues.
He has contributed many years of training, governance, education and peer support through his work as a Hauora Māori Facilitator for Te Ahunga, the College’s cultural orientation event for year 1 registrars, by explaining the importance and significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Hauora Māori in general practice.
Dr Tuhoe has been a Māori GPEP year 1 clinical examiner for the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), a GPEP year 2 and 3 in-practice visiting Māori medical educator and a Fellowship Assessor since 2023.
Dr Tuhoe is a strong advocate for the general practice workforce and for encouraging more Māori medical students into the general practice training programme. He has been involved in placing house officers in their community-based attachments in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland region, as well as contributing to teaching and assessments within the College.
College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “As a College and a workforce, we are very lucky to have Dr Tuhoe’s knowledge and experience, which he uses to ensure a Te Ao Māori lens is applied across the College’s training, education and advocacy work. He is passionate about achieving health equity for Māori, and all New Zealanders, and is a very deserving recipient of this honour.”
Seiuli Dr Juliet Walker | Auckland
Seiuli Dr Juliet Walker, who holds the Samoan chiefly title Seiuli, is specialist GP deeply rooted in culture and dedicated to advocating for Pacific health through her work at both clinical and governance levels. Her ongoing service in South Auckland has had a significant impact in advancing equitable access to health for Pacific families, and she fosters strong connections with patients, their families, her peers and community service providers.
As a founding board member of South Seas Healthcare, she helped to establish one of New Zealand’s largest Pacific providers in Ōtara. She has also been on national advisory boards, including Breast and Bowel Screening, and was a member of both the Counties Manukau and Auckland District Health Boards (DHBs).
College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “Dr Walker’s passion for healthcare has also been shown through her contributions to the College as a medical educator and a member of the College’s Pacific Chapter executive team supporting and guiding the next generation of Pacific GPs through training and into Fellowship. These roles highlight her ability to build strong and trusted relationships and work collaboratively towards a collective goal, such as health equity.”
Dr Andrew Webster | Auckland
Dr Andrew Webster has dedicated countless hours to the College on the Board of Censors, where he is involved with the teaching and assessment of the next generation of specialist GPs.
With clinical medicine constantly evolving, for example, the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and cultural safety now sitting alongside clinical safety, Dr Webster has also been an integral part in the development and inclusion of these aspects of clinical care into the College’s Fellowship Assessment process.
Dr Webster has been described by his peers as a caring, collaborative and innovative GP who is constantly focused on excellence, without losing sight of the human factors that make the job of a GP so challenging and rewarding.
College President Dr Luke Bradford says, “Dr Webster’s commitment to the specialism of general practice is to be commended. When our trainees, the next generation of the workforce, are taught and assessed in a manner that is reflective of the type of care we provide, it is the patients, their health and our communities that benefit the most.”
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