Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 21 178 2662
- garry.nixon@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Head of Rural Section, Department of General Practice and Rural HealthAssociate Dean Rural, Division of Health Sciences
- Department
- Department of General Practice and Rural Health (Dunedin)
- Qualifications
- MB ChB FRNZCGP(Dist) FDRHMNZ PGCertCPU PGDipRPHP
- Research summary
- Rural Health
- Teaching
- Garry teaches on GENA 728 Cardiorespiratory medicine in rural hospitals. He also supervises PhD and masters’ students.
- Memberships
- MNZM for services to rural health
- Member, South Island Cardiac Workstream
- Clinical
- Rural Hospital Generalist, Dunstan Hospital, Central Otago
Research
Garry is leading a project to develop a geographic classification for health that will improve our understanding of urban vs rural differences in health outcomes and access to services in NZ.
His other research interests include workforce development, the management of cardiovascular disease in the rural context and the role of rural hospitals. The focus of his MD was rural diagnostics including point-of-care ultraound and laboratory testing.
Garry is based at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde for both his academic and clinical roles.
Publications
Nixon, G., Davie, G., Whitehead, J., Miller, R., de Graaf, B., Liepins, T., Lawrenson, R., & Crengle, S. (2024). Rural-urban variation in the utilisation of publicly funded healthcare services: An age-stratified population-level observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1590), 33-47. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/
Blattner, K., Clay, L., Keenan, R., Taafaki, J., Crengle, S., Nixon, G., Fortune, K., & Stokes, T. (2024). He Aroka Urutā: Rural health provider perspectives of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in rural Aotearoa New Zealand with a focus on Māori and Pasifika communities: A Qualitative study. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/HC23171
Liepins, T., Davie, G., Miller, R., Whitehead, J., De Graaf, B., Clay, L., Crengle, S., & Nixon, G. (2024). Rural-urban variation in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Aotearoa New Zealand: Examining the national roll-out. Epidemiology & Infection, 152, e7. doi: 10.1017/s0950268823001978
Walker, S. M., Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Koroheke Rogers, M., & Kennedy, E. (2024). What does it mean to be an allied health professional working in rural Aotearoa New Zealand? A qualitative study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32, 53-66. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13061
Bagg, W., Curtis, E., Eggleton, K. S., Nixon, G., Bristowe, Z., Brunton, P., Hendry, C., … Scarf, D., … Williman, J., … Crampton, P. (2023). Socio-demographic profile of medical students in Aotearoa, New Zealand (2016–2020): A nationwide cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 13, 073996. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073996
Blattner, K., Clay, L., Keenan, R., Taafaki, J., Crengle, S., Nixon, G., Fortune, K., & Stokes, T. (2024). He Aroka Urutā: Rural health provider perspectives of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in rural Aotearoa New Zealand with a focus on Māori and Pasifika communities: A Qualitative study. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/HC23171
Journal - Research Article
Liepins, T., Davie, G., Miller, R., Whitehead, J., De Graaf, B., Clay, L., Crengle, S., & Nixon, G. (2024). Rural-urban variation in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Aotearoa New Zealand: Examining the national roll-out. Epidemiology & Infection, 152, e7. doi: 10.1017/s0950268823001978
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Davie, G., Whitehead, J., Miller, R., de Graaf, B., Liepins, T., Lawrenson, R., & Crengle, S. (2024). Rural-urban variation in the utilisation of publicly funded healthcare services: An age-stratified population-level observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1590), 33-47. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/
Journal - Research Article
Walker, S. M., Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Koroheke Rogers, M., & Kennedy, E. (2024). What does it mean to be an allied health professional working in rural Aotearoa New Zealand? A qualitative study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32, 53-66. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13061
Journal - Research Article
Bagg, W., Curtis, E., Eggleton, K. S., Nixon, G., Bristowe, Z., Brunton, P., Hendry, C., … Scarf, D., … Williman, J., … Crampton, P. (2023). Socio-demographic profile of medical students in Aotearoa, New Zealand (2016–2020): A nationwide cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 13, 073996. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073996
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Clay, L., Nixon, G., Richard, L., Miller, R., Crengle, S., … Stokes, T. (2023). The place of rural hospitals in New Zealand's health system: An exploratory qualitative study. Rural & Remote Health, 23(2), 7583. doi: 10.22605/rrh7583
Journal - Research Article
Dacombe-Bird, M., Dassanayake, S., Beck, S., Ribeiro, D. C., Nixon, G., Bryant, K., Stokes, T., Wilkins, G., Johnstone, C., Kennedy, E., … Dixon, D. (2023). Musculoskeletal chest pain prevalence in emergency department presentations: A retrospective case notes review. Emergency Medicine Australasia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14352
Journal - Research Article
Mason, L., Turner-Adams, H., Nixon, G., & Eggleton, K. (2023). Rural secondary school leaver attainment inequities for students entering medical programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2023.2258072
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Nixon, G., Stokes, T., Smith, M., Pickering, J. W., Liepins, T., … Than, M. (2023). The cost-savings of the rural accelerated chest pain pathway for low-risk chest pain in rural general practice: A cost minimisation analysis. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(1), 71-76. doi: 10.1071/HC22117
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Nixon, G., Turner, R. M., Stokes, T., Keenan, R., Grey, C., … Kerr, A. (2023). Outcomes and access to angiography following non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in patients who present to rural or urban hospitals: ANZACS-QI 72. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1573), 27-54. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Nixon, G., Turner, R. M., Stokes, T., Keenan, R., Jiang, Y., … Kerr, A. (2023). Investigation and treatment after non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome for patients presenting to rural or urban hospitals in Aotearoa New Zealand: ANZACS-QI 75. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1585), 85-102. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Rimmer, E., Blattner, K., Withington, S., Ram, S., Topping, M., … Bergin, A., … Smith, M., & Nixon, G. (2023). A retrospective observational study examining interhospital transfers from six New Zealand rural hospitals in 2019. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31, 921-931. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13024
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Davie, G., Whitehead, J., Miller, R., de Graaf, B., Lawrenson, R., Smith, M., … Crengle, S. (2023). Comparison of urban and rural mortality rates across the lifespan in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A population-level study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/jech-2023-220337
Journal - Research Article
Whitehead, J., Blattner, K., Miller, R., Crengle, S., Ram, S., Walker, X., & Nixon, G. (2023). Defining catchment boundaries and their populations for Aotearoa New Zealand's rural hospitals. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(1), 14-23. doi: 10.1071/hc22133
Journal - Research Article
Whitehead, J., Davie, G., de Graaf, B., Crengle, S., Lawrenson, R., Miller, R., & Nixon, G. (2023). Unmasking hidden disparities: A comparative observational study examining the impact of different rurality classifications for health research in Aotearoa New Zealand. BMJ Open, 13, e067927. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067927
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Clay, L., Miller, R., Nixon, G., Crengle, S., Richard, L., … Stokes, T. (2022). New Zealand's rural hospitals in 2021: Findings from an exploratory questionnaire survey. Journal of Primary Health Care, 14(3), 254-258. doi: 10.1071/HC22072
Journal - Research Article
Crengle, S., Davie, G., Whitehead, J., de Graaf, B., Lawrenson, R., & Nixon, G. (2022). Mortality outcomes and inequities experienced by rural Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 28, 100570. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100570
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Nixon, G., Pickering, J. W., Stokes, T., Turner, R. M., Young, J., Gutenstein, M., Smith, M., … Watson, A., George, P., … Than, M. (2022). A prospective multi-centre study assessing the safety and effectiveness following the implementation of an accelerated chest pain pathway using point-of-care troponin for use in New Zealand rural hospital and primary care settings. European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, 11(5), 418-427. doi: 10.1093/ehjacc/zuac037
Journal - Research Article
Whitehead, J., Davie, G., de Graaf, B., Crengle, S., Fearnley, D., Smith, M., Lawrenson, R., & Nixon, G. (2022). Defining rural in Aotearoa New Zealand: A novel geographic classification for health purposes. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1559), 24-40. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Miller, R. M., Lawrence-Lodge, R., Nixon, G., McHugh, P., & Pirini, J. (2021). New Zealand's vocational Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme: The first ten years. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1529), 57-68. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Doolan-Noble, F., Noller, G., Nixon, G., & Stokes, T. (2021). 'I'm still here, that's probably the best part': Lives of those living rurally with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: A qualitative study. Rural & Remote Health, 21, 5659. doi: 10.22605/RRH5659
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Withington, S., Miller, R., & Stokes, T. (2021). Exploring the response to the Covid-19 pandemic at the rural hospital-base hospital interface: Experiences of New Zealand rural hospital doctors. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1545), 11-21. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Poole, P., Van Lier, D., Verstappen, A., Bagg, W., Connell, C. J. W., Nixon, G., & Wilkinson, T. J. (2021). How rural is rural? The relationship between rural background of medical students and their career location intentions. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 29(3), 363-372. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12743
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Stokes, T., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Nixon, G., & Dovey, S. M. (2020). Good care close to home: Local health professional perspectives on how a rural hospital can contribute to the healthcare of its community. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1509), 39-46. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Goodyear-Smith, F., Stokes, T., McKinlay, E., Nixon, G., Lack, L., Fortier, R., & Pullon, S. (2020). New Zealand general practice registrars' views on their academic learning needs during vocational training: Online survey. Education for Primary Care, 31(3), 136-144. doi: 10.1080/14739879.2020.1729250
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Beazley, C. J., Nixon, G., Herd, G., Wigglesworth, J., & Rogers-Koroheke, M. G. (2019). The impact of the introduction of a point-of-care haematology analyser in a New Zealand rural hospital with no onsite laboratory. Rural & Remote Health, 19(2), 4934. doi: 10.22605/rrh4934
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Stokes, T., & Nixon, G. (2019). A scope of practice that works 'out here': Exploring the effects of a changing medical regulatory environment on a rural New Zealand health service. Rural & Remote Health, 19(4), 5442. doi: 10.22605/rrh5442
Journal - Research Article
Ellis, C. J., Gamble, G. D., Williams, M. J. A., Matsis, P., Elliott, J. M., Devlin, G., Mann, S., … for the Regional Cardiac Society NZ ACS Audit Group, including Richards, M., & Nixon, G. (2019). All-cause mortality following an acute coronary syndrome: 12-year follow-up of the comprehensive 2002 New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome Audit. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 28(2), 245-256. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2017.10.015
Journal - Research Article
Miller, R., Stokes, T., & Nixon, G. (2019). Point-of-care troponin use in New Zealand rural hospital: A national survey. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1493), 25-37. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Finnie, W., Lawrenson, R., & Kerse, N. (2019). Use of point-of-care ultrasound for the assessment of intravascular volume in five rural New Zealand hospitals. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, 24(4), 109-114. doi: 10.4103/CJRM.CJRM_26_18
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Muirhead, J., Kiuru, S., & Kerse, N. (2019). Point-of-care ultrasound for FAST and AAA in rural New Zealand: Quality and impact on patient care. Rural & Remote Health, 19(3), 5027. doi: 10.22605/RRH5027
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Koroheke-Rogers, M., Muirhead, J., Finnie, W. L., Lawrenson, R., & Kerse, N. (2018). Point-of-care ultrasound in rural New Zealand: Safety, quality and impact on patient management. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 26(5), 342-349. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12472
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Muirhead, J., & Kerse, N. (2018). Rural point-of-care ultrasound of the kidney and bladder: Quality and effect on patient management. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(4), 324-330. doi: 10.1071/HC18034
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Muirhead, J., Finnie, W., Lawrenson, R., & Kerse, N. (2018). Scope of point-of-care ultrasound practice in rural New Zealand. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(3), 224-236. doi: 10.1071/HC18031
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Gutenstein, M., & Davey, E. (2017). A targeted rural postgraduate education programme: Linking rural doctors across New Zealand and into the Pacific. Education for Primary Care, 28(6), 346-350. doi: 10.1080/14739879.2017.1319253
Journal - Research Article
Keys, J., Venter, L., & Nixon, G. (2017). The use of CT in the management of minor head injuries in Queenstown. Journal of Primary Health Care, 9(2), 162-166. doi: 10.1071/HC16029
Journal - Research Article
Fearnley, D., Kerse, N., & Nixon, G. (2016). The price of ‘free’: Quantifying the costs incurred by rural residents attending publically funded outpatient clinics in rural and base hospitals. Journal of Primary Health Care, 8(3), 204-209. doi: 10.1071/HC16014
Journal - Research Article
Lawrenson, R., Reid, J., Nixon, G., & Laurenson, A. (2016). The New Zealand Rural Hospital Doctors Workforce Survey 2015. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1434), 9-16. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Wong, D. L., & Nixon, G. (2016). The rural medical generalist workforce: The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ 2014 workforce survey results. Journal of Primary Health Care, 8(3), 196-203. doi: 10.1071/HC15055
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Samaranayaka, A., de Graaf, B., McKechnie, R., Rodwell, P., & Blattner, K. (2015). The impact of a rural scanner in overcoming urban versus rural disparities in the utilisation of computed tomography. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 23, 150-154. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12125
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Horgan, C., Coutts, J., Rogers, M., Wong, B., … Wilkins, G. (2014). Evaluation of a rural primary-referred cardiac exercise tolerance test service. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1406). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Samaranayaka, A., de Graaf, B., McKechnie, R., Blattner, K., & Dovey, S. (2014). Geographic disparities in the utilisation of computed tomography scanning services in southern New Zealand. Health Policy, 118(2), 222-228. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.05.002
Journal - Research Article
Sherpa, T. W., Sherpa, K. T., Nixon, G., Heydon, J., Heydon, E., & Dovey, S. (2012). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Sherpa residents of the Upper Khumbu, an isolated community in eastern Nepal. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1365). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Lawrenson, R. A., Nixon, G., & Steed, R. H. (2011). The rural hospital doctors workforce in New Zealand. Rural & Remote Health, 11(2), 1588.
Journal - Research Article
Lloyd, T., Blattner, K., & Nixon, G. (2011). Transfers from rural hospitals in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1328). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1328/4509/content.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Dawson, J., Dovey, S., Black, M. A., Wilkins, G., Dunn, A. C., & McLellan, A. D. (2011). Streptokinase antibodies in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome in three rural New Zealand populations. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 64, 426-429. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2010.085837
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Dovey, S., Jaye, C., & Wigglesworth, J. (2010). Changes in clinical practice and patient disposition following the introduction of point-of-care testing in a rural hospital. Health Policy, 96, 7-12. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2009.12.002
Journal - Research Article
Blattner, K., Nixon, G., Jaye, C., & Dovey, S. (2010). Introducing point-of-care testing into a rural hospital setting: Thematic analysis of interviews with providers. Journal of Primary Health Care, 2(1), 54-60.
Journal - Research Article
Phillips, H., Sukheja, N., Williams, S., La Forgia, A., Nixon, G., McArthur, L. A., … Walters, L. (2023). Point-of-care ultrasound in general practice: An exploratory study in rural South Australia. Rural & Remote Health, 23(1), 7627. doi: 10.22605/rrh7627
Journal - Research Other
Walker, S. M., Kennedy, E., Nixon, G., & Blattner, K. (2022). The allied health workforce of rural Aotearoa New Zealand: A scoping review. Journal of Primary Health Care, 14(3), 259-267. doi: 10.1071/HC22055
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G., Whitehead, J., Davie, G., Fearnley, D., Crengle, S., de Graaf, B., Smith, M., … Lawrenson, R. (2021). Developing the geographic classification for health, a rural-urban classification for New Zealand health research and policy: A research protocol. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 29(6), 940-947. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12778
Journal - Research Other
Blattner, K., Lawrence-Lodge, R., Miller, R., Nixon, G., McHugh, P., & Pirini, J. (2020). New Zealand's Rural Hospital Medicine training program at 10 years: Locality and career choice of the first graduate cohort [Short report]. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 28, 623-625. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12678
Journal - Research Other
Miller, R., Young, J., Nixon, G., Pickering, J. W., Stokes, T., Turner, R., … Gutenstein, M., … George, P. M., … Than, M. (2020). Study protocol for an observational study to evaluate an accelerated chest pain pathway using point-of-care troponin in New Zealand rural and primary care populations. Journal of Primary Health Care, 12(2), 129-138. doi: 10.1071/HC19059
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G., & Lawrenson, R. (2019). Failing to thrive: Academic rural health in New Zealand [Guest]. Journal of Primary Health Care, 11(1), 4-5. doi: 10.1071/HCv11n1_ED2
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Miller, R., Bolden, F., Jelley, G., & Keys, J. (2019). Few New Zealand medical students intend to work in rural areas. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1498), 105-106. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other
Miller, R., & Nixon, G. (2018). The assessment of acute chest pain in New Zealand rural hospitals utilising point-of-care troponin. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(1), 90-92. doi: 10.1071/HC18007
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G. H., Kerse, N. M., Bagg, W., Skinner, M. A., Larmer, P. J., & Crampton, P. (2018). Proposal for a National Interprofessional School of Rural Health. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1485), 67-75. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G., & Burmeister, O. K. (2018). Special issue: Trans-Tasman issue. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 26(5), 306-307. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12478
Journal - Research Other
Nixon, G., Blattner, K., Williamson, M., McHugh, P., & Reid, J. (2017). Training generalist doctors for rural practice in New Zealand. Rural & Remote Health, 17(1), 4047. Retrieved from http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/subviewnew.asp?ArticleID=4047
Journal - Research Other
Fearnley, D., Lawrenson, R., & Nixon, G. (2016). ‘Poorly defined’: Unknown unknowns in New Zealand rural health. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1439), 77-81. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other