Dean and Head of Campus
MA(Auck) PhD(Otago) PGDipEdPsych(Massey) MNZPsS
Email suzanne.pitama@otago.ac.nz
MIHI (Māori/Indigenous Health Institute)
School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
University of Otago, Christchurch.
PO Box 4345,
Christchurch
About Suzanne Pitama (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Suzanne is a registered educational psychologist. She has extensive experience in Māori health research and health education.
Suzanne is focussed on addressing Māori health inequities through medical education, health research (including mental health and heart health) and through membership on appropriate committees and boards (including the HRC Board and Australian Medical Council).
Suzanne's PhD focused on the design, implementation and impact of indigenous health curricula within medical schools. Suzanne is the Otago Medical School Hauora Māori faculty representative and is a member of the MBChB curriculum committee and Chairs the Hauora Māori sub-committee.
Suzanne also contributes to the MIHI post-graduate short courses that support the professional development of health professionals in the Hui Process and Meihana Model.
Teaching
Undergraduate medical curriculum
Postgraduate short courses
- MIHI RMO 301
- MIHI 501 Clin Psych
- MIHI 601 Clin Psych
- MIHI 501 RANZCOG
- MIHI 501 Health Professionals
Research interests
- Hauora Māori – Māori Health
- Effects of Adoption Practices on Mental Health
- Cardiovascular disease
- Severe Behaviour in childhood and adolescence
- MoDCONZ – Modelling disease and cancer outcomes in New Zealand
Professional activities
- Educational Psychologist
- Suzanne Pitama is the Haura Māori representative on the Faculty of Medicine Curriculum Committee