Alumni in the news

Professor Graeme Barnes has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to medicine, particularly to child gastrointestinal health, and to medical research. Professor Barnes is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and an Honorary Emeritus Gastroenterologist at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Professor Barnes graduated from Otago in 1965 and has been instrumental in the identification of rotavirus and the development of a vaccine.

Becky Dennison is a social worker, but outside normal hours, she's selling jewellery through her online accessories store and hand-making floral wreaths.
https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/community/side-hustles-funnel-her-passion/

Dunedin business owner and Otago Master of Entrepreneurship graduate Keir Russell is making headlines for designing a face shield which is being used across the globe in the fight against COVID-19.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/face-shield-design-goes-global

The UK newspaper The Guardian published the following obituary of distinguished Otago alumna Hilary Bracefield (MA Music 1967, MA English 1969).
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/05/hilary-bracefield-obituary

Professor Richie Poulton discusses how cannabis use affects New Zealanders' health. (photo: Guy Frederick).

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018749540/how-does-cannabis-use-affect-new-zealanders-health

Queen's Birthday Honours 2020

Congratulations to all the Otago alumni and staff who were awarded Queen's Birthday Honours. The awards recognise the outstanding contributions they have made to a wide range of areas, including music, health, community, education, conservation, poetry and sport.

Dr Karen Poutasi CNZM was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit DNZM for services to education and the State. See the full story here

Professor John Nacey and Mr George Ngaei ONZM were appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit CNZM for services to health and education, and health and the Pacific community respectively. Professor Nacey was Dean, University of Otago Wellington, for 10 years, and led the development and implementation of significant changes to prevocational medical training in New Zealand. He currently works in the Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia.

Mr Ngaei has been involved in improving Māori and Pacific health as a practicing general surgeon in Invercargill, as well as providing his expertise to work and consult on a wide range of medical issues for those living in the Cook Islands. (See the full story here link).

The Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ONZM was awarded to Dr Daryle Deering for services to nursing, particularly mental health and addiction nursing; Dr Garry Forgeson for services to oncology; Professor Ian Lambie for services to clinical psychology; and Dr Brian Turner for services to literature and poetry. Former staff member Professor Alec Ekeroma received the ONZM for services to health and the Pacific community.

The Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit was awarded to Ms Carol Bartle for services to health, particularly breastfeeding education; Mr David Benton for services to addiction support and treatment; Mrs Patricia Broad QSM for services to gymnastics; Mr John Buchanan for services to music; Ms Sharon Kearney for services to physiotherapy and netball; Dr Sally Keeling for services to gerontology; Dr Kevin Knight JP for services to education; Dr Cilla McQueen for services as a poet and Dr Janet Turnbull for services to health. An MNZM (Honorary) was awarded to staff member Dr John Hellemans, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, for services to triathlon.

The Queen's Service Medal was awarded to Ms Gillian Bishop for services to conservation; Mr Trevor McGlinchey for services to Māori and the community and Mr Malcolm Walker for services to sport and education.

Read more about the alumni and staff honours here