June 2010 | School of Population Health Newsletter
QSO Honours Passion for Pacific Community
A
passion for helping Pacific Island
children was recognised in this
year’s Queen’s Birthday honours when
Pacific Health Director Dr Teuila Percival
was made a Companion of the Queen’s
Service Order for services to the Pacific
Islands community.
Dr Teuila Percival QSO - passionate about helping
Pacific Island children.
Dr Percival has been involved with Pacific
communities for many years. She studied
medicine at Auckland University and has
been a paediatrician since 1993, getting
involved with Pacific community health
soon after.
Dr Percival is a founding member and
current vice-president of the Pasifika
Medical Association, and has served on
the Board of Directors for South Seas
Health Care - a Pacific Primary Care
Health Provider in Otara - since it began
over ten years ago. South Seas has set
up a number of community programmes
including the “Kids in Action” obesity
treatment programme in South Auckland,
and the Otahuhu College School Clinic one of the first multi-disciplinary primarycare clinics in a school. She also sits on
the Board of Trustees for TaPasefika, the
first Pacific PHO in the country.
Teuila divides her time between SoPH and
KidzFirst Childrens Hospital CMDHB as
a Consultant Paediatrican. She recently
returned from Tokelau after carrying out
a health/medical needs assessment in
partnership with the community there,
and has also been doing follow-up
medical work with paediatric survivors
of the Samoa Tsunami. The tsunami
struck while she was there attending a
conference on heart disease, and she
rolled up her sleeves and got to work
helping the victims.
“It was quite fortuitous that I was there,”
she says. “The children I followed up with
are doing very well.”
Teuila will be part of a Pacific Programme
Evaluation team from SoPH to attend the
Pacific NCD Forum in Fiji next month.
This is an annual meeting hosted by SPC
and WHO, involving representatives from
the Pacific region and focusing on utilising
Continued on page 5
School of Population Health - The University of Auckland | Page 1
Lecture by World-Renowned
Expert Attracts Wide Audience
D
r Jeffrey Wigand, former head of
research at a US tobacco company,
knows well what tricks the tobacco
industry use. Dr Wigand blew the whistle
on the tobacco industry in a now famous
60 Minutes interview fifteen years
ago, revealing that tobacco companies
deliberately manipulate the amount of
nicotine in cigarettes.
Josephine Samuelu
(left), TAHA Well
Pacific Mother
and Infant Service,
Stephanie Erick of
Tala Pasifika and
Nicola MacDonald
of Mäori SIDS pose
cheerfully with
guest Dr Jeffrey
Wigand after his
lecture at SoPH.
His lecture at SoPH this month, hosted by
the school’s Centre for Tobacco Control
Research (CTCR), attracted over 120
attendees from as far afield as Hamilton.
This included representatives from ASH,
CTCR, The Heart Foundation and The
Cancer Society, as well as from CTRU,
Pacific Health and Maori SIDS here at
SoPH.
Dr Wigand was a key witness in antitobacco litigation in the US, and is
still vigorously campaigning against
cigarettes, saying he thinks his efforts
have made some difference in bringing
the topic into the spotlight. He recently
told the Herald “the mantra in the
company I worked for was ‘hook ‘em
young and hook ‘em for life’.”
Dr Wigand is visiting New Zealand at
the invitation of ASH, to share expert
testimony with the Māori affairs select
committee.
Page 2 | School of Population Health - The University of Auckland
Update on SoPH Review
T
he School Self-Review Portfolio
has been completed, consisting
of a self-review document, a volume
of appendices, and a CD with further
background material. Putting this
together was hard work, but I believe
the Portfolio will be very useful, not
just for the Review, but in planning
activities in the School in the next few
years. The Portfolio brings together in
one document a full description of our
teaching, research, service activities,
financial position, and management
and operations. It will be a wonderful
resource.
I would like to thank everyone who
contributed, but especially Evie Kinane
and Theresa Nathan (our temp). They
combined multiple drafts, formatted,
helped with editing, and printed endless
copies for proof-reading and correction.
This is not a public document, but I am
keen that everyone in the School has
an opportunity to see the Portfolio, and
has an opportunity to read it if they wish
before the review team visits. Copies will
be distributed, and the Administrators
in each Section will be responsible for
making arrangements for people to
borrow and read them. This is a little
cumbersome, I acknowledge, but at this
stage in the Review we cannot distribute
electronic copies.
I am meeting the Chair of the Panel
next week to discuss arrangements for
the Panel’s visit, and will send another
update around the School when I know
more about the programme.
If you have any queries about the
Review, or the Portfolio, please don’t
hesitate to speak to me or email.
Alistair Woodward, Head of School
Atrium a Gallery for CertHSc Annual Photo Essay
J
une saw the Atrium host a display of
the CertHSc student’s work for their
Photo Essay assignment.
The Photo Essay assignment is a creative
piece of work which required each
student to address the topic of ‘Health
is ...’ via the use of photography. A
written component of this assignment
Sue Kistanna, new General Manager for Te
Kupenga Hauora Māori, admires the photo essays.
is incorporated via the provision of a
bibliography and synopsis on the photos
presented.
What it is:
• A photo essay is a collection of photos
around a common theme.
• It includes photo captions and in our
case a synopsis and biography of the
photographer.
Continued on page 5
CertHSc student Ofa Vaipulu (above)
chooses her vote for the prizes for best
photo essay, best photos, and best
concept.
CertHSc student Alexandrea Pita (below),
winner of the “Best Photo Essay” prize,
demonstrates her winning technique.
Purpose:
• To extend the subject of
communication to a medium that is
a mixture of written and visual. This
is in effect very similar to journalism
and the formation of public opinion,
which are conveyed through the
pictures on cigarette boxes, billboards,
advertisement etc.
• To allow students to explore their
interpretation of the theme ‘Health is
...’ through an analytical tool.
• To enable students to express
themselves and their writing through
a different medium.
School of Population Health - The University of Auckland | Page 3
W
2010 Careers Day a Showcase for SoPH and CertHSc
ith record numbers in attendance at
this year’s Māori and Pacific Health
Careers Day, secondary students across
Auckland are motivated to become health
professionals.
combined with 61 CertHSc students, and
were treated to an integrated programme
offering an inspirational session with
Māori sporting icon Tāwera Nikau, a
two-hour health expo, health/science
workshops and an “interactive
health quiz” using the new clicker
technology.
Showcasing the CertHSc
programme was an important
aspect to the open day. The aim of
High-school students, CertHSc students and SoPH
staff mingle during the 2010 Mäori and Pacific
Health Careers Day in May.
While the day was organised and run
by Te Kupenga Hauora Māori and the
Vision 20:20 programmes, over thirty
health providers and numerous FMHS
departments also manned stalls to
promote different health professions.
The full day programme aimed at
showcasing what the SOPH offers in
health. Over 150 students attended Page 4 | School of Population Health - The University of Auckland
the CertHSc is to bridge the gap between
secondary school studies and university.
The one-year course has been running
since 1999 with 61 students enrolled
Continued on page 5
Continued from page 4.
in 2010. The CertHSc course covers
physics, chemistry, biology, population
health, mathematics and Māori and Pacific
Health. Kaiārahi/Academic Director of
CertHSc Dr Elana Curtis said this extra
learning in science-related topics was an
important precursor for courses offered
by the Faculty of Medical and Health
Sciences, such as Medicine, Nursing,
Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Dr Curtis said she was keen to encourage
more Māori to enter the programme
and the open day given the significant
inequities in educational outcomes for
Māori students leaving high schools in
New Zealand. Having the opportunity
to bridge into health programmes via
the CertHSc is a key component of the
Faculty’s commitment to achieving equity
in health via workforce development.
Continued from page 1.
evidence to implement proven strategies
and encourage people to change lifestyle
habits to stop chronic diseases. The SoPH
team will be presenting a workshop on
programme evaluation, and will also
host a breakfast for funders to present
the work and experience of the SOPH
in relation to NCDs. “The team going is
myself, Amanda Dunlop, Janet Clinton,
Jude McCool and Chris Bullen”, says
Teuila. “We see this as an important
opportunity to share the capability and
experience of the SOPH and also, as is so
important in the Pacific, to meet people
from the different countries and funding
organisations in person.”
Future work includes a new project
funded by Ausaid to develop clinically
functional child health indicators for the
Pacific in Samoa and Tonga.
“This is significant recognition of
Teuila’s work,” said Alistair Woodward.
“It is wonderful to see her efforts
acknowledged in this way.”
Congratulations to Teuila for her award,
and best wishes for her future work.
Continued from page 3.
Final works were presented in a CertHSc
Photo Essay exhibition in Week 12.
Careers Day attendees take a time-out in the
atrium between programmes.
The Māori and Pacific Health Careers day
was fully supported by TKHM funding in
2010.
Many thanks are due to organisers
Abigail Pye, Marie-Chanel Berghan and
Robert Loto, and to the many CertHSc,
WAP and MAPAS staff that make up
the Vision 20:20 team (and who also
provided the excellent pictures - thanks
team!)
The CertHSc assignment had 4 different
prizes. The best technical photo was
judged by expert photographer Vicky Te
Puni. Other prize categories were decided
by fellow student cohort themselves.
The winners were:
• Yandall Tuigamala: Best Theme
• Wilhem Killip: Best photos
• Aleshia Amos: Best technical photo
• Alexandrea Pita: Best overall
Congratulations to students and staff
alike for creating an entertaining and
thought-provoking display.
School of Population Health - The University of Auckland | Page 5
Fourth Asian Health Conference
Welcome to New Manager
he Centre for Asian Health Research
and Evaluation (CAHRE) is hosting
the 4th International Asian Health and
Wellbeing Conference on 5th and 6th July
2010 at the School of Population Health
(SoPH). The theme of the conference is
An Holistic Approach to Asian Health, a
theme that reflects the multiculturalism
in New Zealand.
enise
Greenwood
joined the School
as the Research
Development
Manager, a
new role with
a very strong
development
focus. The
intention is to
support new
initiatives in the
School, to ensure we make the most
of the rich mix of skills and experience
amongst our staff and students, that
we gain the funds needed to do this
work, and that good research leads to
good research outputs. Since joining the
School three months ago Denise has
been involved in preparations for the
School Review, meeting researchers and
advising on funding opportunities.
T
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to
meet with the keynote speakers:
• Prof Leighton Ku, Director, Center
for Health Policy Research, George
Washington University (USA)
• Prof Kamlesh Khunti, Co-director,
South East Midlands Diabetes
Research Network, University of
Leicester (UK)
• Assoc Prof Sukanya Ray, Asian Mental
Health Clinic, Suffolk University (USA)
• Assoc Prof Samson Tse, Director,
Master of Social Sciences, Universit of
Hong Kong (HK)
Featured Speakers include Prof Shanthi
Ameratunga, Dr Fiona Rossen, Assoc Prof
Elsie Ho and Dr Amritha Sobrun-Maharaj,
from SoPH.
The conference will cover such topics as:
• Diabetes in South Asians: Nature,
Nurture or Karma?
• Understanding health risks, healthcare
needs, and challenges of Asian
immigrants: Bridging the gap through
research, service, and training
• The promise of health policy for
Asians: the United States experience
• Keys to foster and improve Asian
migrants’ health: a personal reflection
For more information, please feel
free to contact Mr Sun Kim, cahre@
auckland.ac.nz or visit our website:
http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/
asianhealthconference.
Page 6 | School of Population Health - The University of Auckland
D
D
New PhD Wins Award
r Bridget Kool from the Section of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics has
been awarded an Auckland Medical
Research Foundation Postdoctoral
Fellowship.
The award provides two years’ support
for a science or medical graduate who
has recently completed a degree at
doctorate level and who proposes to
pursue a career in medical research.
Bridget will use the support to explore
the development of a computerised
decision support system (CDSS) to assist
health professionals to more accurately
diagnosis, and more effectively manage
children (0-14 years) who present to
the emergency department with mild
traumatic brain injury.
Congratulations Bridget.
C
HRC Successes for School
ongratulations to researchers from
the School of Population Health
who were successful in this year’s
HRC annual funding round. The $14.4
million awarded to researchers in the
School of Population Health will fund two
programmes, five research projects and
one feasibility study.
In this recent HRC funding round
University of Auckland researchers were
awarded 19 grants worth a total of $23.9
million. In addition congratulations go to
a number of HRC successes associated
with collaborative research involving
researchers from the School with
members of other institutes including
Faculty of Science, AUT and District
Health Boards. The successful applicants
from SoPH are:
• Robert Scragg – New Programme:
Effect of vitamin D on cardiovascular
and respiratory disease event rates
• Cliona Ni Mhurchu – Programme
extension: Population interventions to
improve nutrition and physical activity
• Shanthi Ameratunga – Project:
Determinants of life-threatening
injuries among young and middle
aged adults
• Ngaire Kerse – Project: Live and Living
in advanced age: a Cohort study in
New Zealand
• Ralph Maddison – Project: Efficacy
of an m-health based cardiac
rehabilitation programme
• Natalie Walker – Project: Cytisine – a
promising low cost intervention for
smoking cessation
• Diana Lennon – Feasibility Study: Can
we reduce Māori and Pacific School
children’s Hospitalisations to Pakeha
Rates?
• Chris Bullen - Project: Trial of
e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.
Congratulations to all.
I
TKHM Wins ICIHRP Funding
n March this year HRC announced
funding for 3 new projects through the
International Collaborative Indigenous
Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP)
scheme, a partnership involving New
Zealand, Australia and Canada in
research focused on improving the health
of indigenous populations. Two of the
three projects are headed by staff in Te
Kupenga Hauora Māori.
Sue Crengle was awarded funding for 3
years to lead a project on strengthening
health literacy among people living with
cardiovascular disease. The project aims
to improve information accessibility and
understanding by patients and families
affected by CVD through advancing
knowledge and skills development of
health care providers.
Rhys Jones is lead investigator on the
project “Educating for Equity”. This study
will explore how education of health
professionals can reduce disparities
in care and improve chronic disease
outcomes for indigenous populations.
Congratulations to Sue and Rhys and
their teams for winning these highly
competitive research awards.
D
Māori Health Week in July
uring the second week of July SoPH
is expecting a record number of
students for Māori Health Week. With
over 400 attendees expected, all rooms
on campus have been booked. School
Manager Peggy McQuinn says to expect
some activity from Tuesday to Thursday
(13th to 15th.) Wrap up and end of week
presentations will be held in the atrium
on the last day.
“These activities are an important
opportunity to showcase the School,”
says Peggy.
School of Population Health - The University of Auckland | Page 7
Population Health Intensive Week Engages Students for Forth Year
A
week focussing on population
health for Year 5 medical students,
Population Health Intensive, ran for
its fourth year from May 10-14 at the
School.
to mitigate the health effects on people
from a small island nation of being
moved as ‘eco-refugees’ to New Zealand,
due to rising sea levels inundating their
country.
Keynote speaker Dr Kumanan
Programme convenor Associate Professor
Rasanathan set the tone for the week
Chris Bullen said that the standard of
with a talk on ‘Why 21st
century clinicians need
to have a population
health perspective.’ Dr
Rasanathan is a public
health physician currently
working with the WHO,
Geneva in the Department
of Health Equity and
Trade. An Auckland
graduate, he captivated
the audience with an
account of his journey as
a doctor to his current
role, and argued that
fairness is central to a
Keynote speaker Dr Kumanan Rasanathan, a public health physician
doctor’s work.
currently working with WHO, captivating the audience of year 5 medical
students during Population Health Intensive week.
His talk set the tone for
the week, in which 180
student work was very high overall.
students in teams of 10 developed a
“Students really engaged as teams with
costed proposal for a population health
their topics, were innovative and wellintervention to tackle one of 18 topics
informed, and were ably supported by
ranging from elder abuse, housing and
energetic facilitators from the School. ”
neighbourhoods to climate change.
said Chris.
To work on their ideas, students visited
community agencies and reviewed
literature, culminating in presentations
to the other teams on Friday including
a video-conferencing link to the
two Pukawakawa student groups in
Northland.
The team assessed as having the best
presentation came up with a proposal
Page 8 | School of Population Health - The University of Auckland
C
ontributions to the School of
Population Health newsletter
can be sent to John Trevithick
at j.trevithick@auckland.ac.nz.
The SOPH news is a quarterly
publication. The next issue will be
published in September.