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Contact Details

Phone
+64 21 178 2662
Email
garry.nixon@otago.ac.nz
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

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