Professor Suzanne Pitama, Māori Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI) , University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Suzanne Pitama image Dean and Head of Campus

MA(Auck) PhD(Otago) PGDipEdPsych(Massey) MNZPsS

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

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Publications

Burnside, M., Haitana, T., Crocket, H., Lewis, D., Meier, R., Sanders, O., … Frewen, C., Jones, S., … Wheeler, B. J., Pitama, S., de Bock, M., & Lacey, C. (2023). Interviews with Indigenous Māori with type 1 diabetes using open-source automated insulin delivery in the CREATE randomised trial. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, 22, 861-871. doi: 10.1007/s40200-023-01215-3

Manuel, J., Pitama, S., Clark, M. T. R., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., Cunningham, R., Gibb, S., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Porter, R. J., & Lacey, C. (2023). Racism, early psychosis and institutional contact: A qualitative study of Indigenous experiences. International Review of Psychiatry, 35(3-4), 323-330. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2023.2188074

Clark, M. T. R., Manuel, J., Lacey, C., Pitama, S., Cunningham, R., & Jordan, J. (2023). Reimagining eating disorder spaces: A qualitative study exploring Māori experiences of accessing treatment for eating disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 22. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00748-5

Manuel, J., Cunningham, R., Gibb, S., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., Carr, G., & Lacey, C. (2023). Non-Indigenous privilege in health, justice and social services preceding first episode psychosis: A population-based cohort study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 57(6), 834-843. doi: 10.1177/00048674221119964

Whitehead, C., Grundy, K., Wiseman, R., & Pitama, S. (2022). Dying in hospital: Staff perceptions on providing quality care. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1567), 13-20. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Cave, T., Robertson, P., Pitama, S., & Huriwai, T. (2009). He tete kura: Maori addiction treatment: 1980-2008. Wellington, New Zealand: Matua Raki, 203p.

Authored Book - Research

Pitama, S. (2021). Finding place within a space. In J. Ruru & L. W. Nikora (Eds.), Ngā Kete Matauranga: Māori scholars at the research interface. (pp. 207-213). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Huria, T., Lacey, C., Melbourne-Wilcox, M., & Pitama, S. (2017). Keynote presentation: Externalising a complicated situation: Teaching racism in an indigenous curriculum: A case study. In O. Mazel & C. Ryan (Eds.), Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education LIME Good practice case studies (Vol. 4). (pp. 12-17). Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

Chapter in Book - Research

Sarich, K., & Pitama, S. (2017). The impacts of being a 'Roadshow facilitator' in Indigenous health tertiary students. In O. Mazel & C. Ryan (Eds.), Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education LIME Good practice case studies (Vol. 4). (pp. 12-17). Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

Chapter in Book - Research

Faatoese, A. F., Pitama, S. G., Wells, J. E., & Cameron, V. A. (2013). Understanding cardiovascular disparities between Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand: Is there a way to reduce these disparities? In O. T. Jackson & K. A. Evans (Eds.), Health disparities: Epidemiology, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic risk factors and strategies for elimination. (pp. 77-102). New Yourk, NY: Nova.

Chapter in Book - Research

Huria, T., Lacey, C., & Pitama, S. (2013). Friends with benefits: Should Indigenous medical educators involve the Indigenous community in Indigenous medical education? In C. Edmonds (Ed.), Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education LIME Good practice case studies (Vol. 2). (pp. 35-38). Melbourne, Australia: Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne.

Chapter in Book - Research

Pitama, S. (2012). Tū Kahika program. In C. Lochert (Ed.), Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education LIME Good practice case studies. (pp. 23-25). Melbourne, Australia: Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne.

Chapter in Book - Research

Crengle, S., Pink, R., & Pitama, S. (2007). Respiratory disease. In B. Robson & R. Harris (Eds.), Hauora: Māori standards of health IV: A study of the years 2000-2005. (pp. 169-179). Wellington, New Zealand: Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare, University of Otago.

Chapter in Book - Research

Cram, F., & Pitama, S. (1998). Ko toku whanau, ko toko mana. In V. Adair & R. Dixon (Eds.), The Family in Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 130-157). New Zealand: Longman.

Chapter in Book - Research

Pitama, S. (1997). The effects of traditional and non-traditional adoption practices on Maori mental health. In Adoption and Healing. Wellington: New Zealand Adoption Education and Healing Trust.

Chapter in Book - Research

Pitama, S. (2013). Māori Indigenous Heath Institute. In P. Joyce, G. Nicholls, K. Thomas & T. Wilkinson (Eds.), The Christchurch experience: 40 years of research and teaching. (pp. 17-21). Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Otago.

Chapter in Book - Other

Journal - Research Article

Burrowes, K. S., Fuge, C., Murray, T., Amos, J., Pitama, S., & Beckert, L. (2022). An evaluation of a New Zealand "vape to quit smoking" programme. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1561), 45-55. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz

Journal - Research Article

Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Cormack, D., Clark, M. T. R., & Lacey, C. (2022). "If we can just dream…": Māori talk about healthcare for bipolar disorder in New Zealand: A qualitative study privileging Indigenous voices on organisational transformation for health equity. International Journal of Health Planning & Management, 37(5), 2613-2634. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3486

Journal - Research Article

Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Cormack, D., Clark, M. T. R., & Lacey, C. (2022). Culturally competent, safe and equitable clinical care for Māori with bipolar disorder in New Zealand: The expert critique of Māori patients and Whānau. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(6), 648-656. doi: 10.1177/00048674211031490

Journal - Research Article

Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Cormack, D., Clark, M. T. R., & Lacey, C. (2022). ‘It absolutely needs to move out of that structure’: Māori with bipolar disorder identify structural barriers and propose solutions to reform the New Zealand mental health system. Ethnicity & Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2022.2027884

Journal - Research Article

Keelan, K., Wilkinson, T., Pitama, S., & Lacey, C. (2022). Exploring elderly Māori experiences of aged residential care using a kaupapa Māori research paradigm: Methodological considerations. AlterNative, 18(1), 67-74. doi: 10.1177/11771801221086323

Journal - Research Article

Han, H., Clithero-Eridon, A., Costa, M. J., Dennis, C. A., Dorsey, J. K., Ghias, K., … Pitama, S., … Zdravković, M. (2021). On pandemics and pivots: A COVID-19 reflection on envisioning the future of medical education. Korean Journal of Medical Education, 33(4), 393-404. doi: 10.3946/kjme.2021.207

Journal - Research Article

Huria, T., Pitama, S. G., Beckert, L., Hughes, J., Monk, N., Lacey, C., & Palmer, S. C. (2021). Reported sources of health inequities in Indigenous Peoples with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review of quantitative studies. BMC Public Health, 21, 1447. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11180-2

Journal - Research Article

Keelan, K., Pitama, S., Wilkinson, T., & Lacey, C. (2021). Indigenous peoples’ experiences and preferences in aged residential care: A systematic review. AlterNative, 17(2), 175-182. doi: 10.1177/11771801211004773

Journal - Research Article

Beckert, L., Wiseman, R., Pitama, S., & Landers, A. (2020). What can we learn from patients to improve their non-invasive ventilation experience? 'It was unpleasant; if I was offered it again, I would do what I was told'. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 10, e7. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001151

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Crowe, M., Stanley, J., Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Porter, R., Baxter, J., Huria, T., Mulder, R., Clark, M. T. R., & Lacey, C. (2020). Gender and mental health service use in bipolar disorder: National cohort study. BJPsych Open, 6(6), 138. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.117

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Mulder, R., Porter, R., & Lacey, C. (2020). The physical health of Māori with bipolar disorder. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(11), 1107-1114. doi: 10.1177/0004867420954290

Journal - Research Article

Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Cormack, D., Clark, M., & Lacey, C. (2020). The transformative potential of Kaupapa Māori Research and indigenous methodologies: Positioning Māori patient experiences of mental health services. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1-12. doi: 10.1177/1609406920953752

Journal - Research Article

Lacey, C., Cunningham, R., Rijnberg, V., Manuel, J., Clark, M. T. R., Keelan, K., Pitama, S., Huria, T., Lawson, R., & Jordan, J. (2020). Eating disorders in New Zealand: Implications for Māori and health service delivery. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53, 1974-1982. doi: 10.1002/eat.23372

Journal - Research Article

Landers, A., McKenzie, C., Pitama, S. G., & Brown, H. (2020). Enzyme replacement in advanced pancreatic cancer: Patient perceptions. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002153

Journal - Research Article

Mclachlan, A., Pitama, S., & Adamson, S. J. (2020). Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua: Engaging Māori rural communities in health and social service care. AlterNative, 16(3), 202-210. doi: 10.1177/1177180120948275

Journal - Research Article

Petrović-van der Deen, F., Cunningham, R., Manuel, J., Gibb, S., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., & Lacey, C. (2020). Exploring indigenous ethnic inequities in first episode psychosis in New Zealand: A national cohort study. Schizophrenia Research, 223, 311-318. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.09.004

Journal - Research Article

Huria, T., Palmer, S. C., Pitama, S., Beckert, L., Lacey, C., Ewen, S., & Smith, L. T. (2019). Consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving indigenous peoples: The CONSIDER statement. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 19, 173. doi: 10.1186/s12874-019-0815-8

Journal - Research Article

Jones, R., Crowshoe, L., Reid, P., Calam, B., Curtis, E., Green, M., Huria, T., … Lacey, C., … Pitama, S., … Ewen, S. (2019). Educating for indigenous health equity: An international consensus statement. Academic Medicine, 94(4), 512-519. doi: 10.1097/acm.0000000000002476

Journal - Research Article

Lacey, C., Manuel, J., Schluter, P. J., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., & Jamieson, H. A. (2019). Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics and comorbidities of older adults with schizophrenia who access community health service support: A national cross-sectional study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 53(6), 570-580. doi: 10.1177/0004867419828480

Journal - Research Article

Palmer, S. C., Gray, H., Huria, T., Lacey, C., Beckert, L., & Pitama, S. G. (2019). Reported Māori consumer experiences of health systems and programs in qualitative research: A systematic review with meta-synthesis. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18, 163. doi: 10.1186/s12939-019-1057-4

Journal - Research Article

Pitama, S., Beckert, L., Huria, T., Palmer, S., Melbourne-Wilcox, M., Patu, M., Lacey, C., & Wilkinson, T. J. (2019). The role of social accountable medical education in addressing health inequity in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 49(Suppl. 1), 58-71. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2019.1659379

Journal - Research Article

Galloway, A. T., Watson, P., Pitama, S., & Farrow, C. V. (2018). Socioeconomic position and picky eating behavior predict disparate weight trajectories in infancy. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 9, 528. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00528

Journal - Research Article

Huria, T., Palmer, S., Beckert, L., Williman, J., & Pitama, S. (2018). Inequity in dialysis related practices and outcomes in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Kaupapa Māori analysis. International Journal for Equity in Health, 17, 27. doi: 10.1186/s12939-018-0737-9

Journal - Research Article

Rolston, C. J., Conner, T. S., Stamp, L. K., Neha, T., Pitama, S., Fanning, N., … Hudson, B., Hegarty, R. M., & Treharne, G. J. (2018). Improving gout education from patients’ perspectives: A focus group study of Māori and Pākehā people with gout. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(3), 194-200. doi: 10.1071/HC18010

Journal - Research Article

Treharne, G. J., Richardson, A. C., Neha, T., Fanning, N., Janes, R., Hudson, B., … Pitama, S., & Stamp, L. K. (2018). Education preferences of people with gout: Exploring differences between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples from rural and urban locations. Arthritis Care & Research, 70(2), 260-267. doi: 10.1002/acr.23272

Journal - Research Article

Huria, T., Palmer, S., Beckert, L., Lacey, C., & Pitama, S. (2017). Indigenous health: Designing a clinical orientation program valued by learners. BMC Medical Education, 17, 180. doi: 10.1186/s12909-017-1019-8

Journal - Research Article

Khashram, M., Pitama, S., Williman, J. A., Jones, G. T., & Roake, J. A. (2017). Survival disparity following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair highlights Inequality in ethnic and socio-economic status. European Journal of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, 54(6), 689-696. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2017.08.018

Journal - Research Article

Pitama, S. G., Bennett, S. T., Waitoki, W., Haitana, T. N., Valentine, H., Pahina, J., … Beckert, L., Palmer, S. C., Huria, T. M., Lacey, C. J., & McLachlan, A. (2017). A proposed hauora Māori clinical guide for psychologists: Using the Hui Process and Meihana Model in clinical assessment and formulation. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 46(3), 7-19.

Journal - Research Article

Desrosiers, J., Wilkinson, T., Abel, G., & Pitama, S. (2016). Curricular initiatives that enhance student knowledge and perceptions of sexual and gender minority groups: A critical interpretive synthesis. Canadian Medical Education Journal / Revue canadienne de l'éducation médicale, 7(2), e121-e138.

Journal - Research Article

Landers, A., Wiseman, R., Pitama, S., & Beckert, L. (2015). Patient perceptions of severe COPD and transitions towards death: A qualitative study identifying milestones and developing key opportunities. Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 25, 15043. doi: 10.1038/npjpcrm.2015.43

Journal - Research Article

Whalley, G. A., Pitama, S., Troughton, R. W., Doughty, R. N., Gamble, G. D., Gillies, T., Wells, J. E., Faatoese, A., Huria, T., Richards, M., & Cameron, V. A. (2015). Higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in two Māori cohorts: Findings from the Hauora Manawa/Community Heart Study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(1), 26-31. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12300

Journal - Research Article

Huria, T., Cuddy, J., Lacey, C., & Pitama, S. (2014). Working with racism: A qualitative study of the perspectives of Māori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) registered nurses on a global phenomenon. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 25(4), 364-372. doi: 10.1177/1043659614523991

Journal - Research Article

Stamp, L. K., Wells, J. E., Pitama, S., Faatoese, A., Doughty, R. N., Whalley, G., Richards, A. M., & Cameron, V. A. (2013). Hyperuricaemia and gout in New Zealand rural and urban Māori and non-Māori communities. Internal Medicine Journal, 43(6), 678-684. doi: 10.1111/imj.12062

Journal - Research Article

Cameron, V. A., Faatoese, A. F., Gillies, M. W., Robertson, P. J., Huria, T. M., Doughty, R. N., Whalley, G. A., … Richards, M. A., Troughton, R. W., Tikao-Mason, K. N., Wells, E. J., Sheerin, I. G., & Pitama, S. G. (2012). A cohort study comparing cardiovascular risk factors in rural Māori, urban Māori and non-Māori communities in New Zealand. BMJ Open, 2(3), e000799. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000799

Journal - Research Article

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