NZMA Chairman’s Award 2004

1 December, 2004

NZMA Chairman’s Award 2004

The New Zealand Medical Association this week awarded its highest accolade, the Chairman’s Award, to Auckland medical practitioner Dr Tony Baird. The NZMA Chairman’s Award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the health of New Zealand.

Dr Baird has been at the forefront of the leadership of the medical profession for many years, including holding two of the positions at the pinnacle of the profession - President of the Medical Council (1998-2002), and Chairman of the NZMA (1987-88).

He studied medicine at Otago University, and trained as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Auckland, where he had both a private practice and an appointment at National Women’s Hospital.

Others positions he has held include President of the Auckland Division of the NZMA, President of the New Zealand section of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Chairman of the Council of Medical Colleges.

He is currently Chair of the NZMA’s Ethics Committee.

In presenting the Award, NZMA Chairman Dr Tricia Briscoe said Dr Baird “embodies the commitment to knowledge and skills, self-regulation, integrity, morality and altruism that epitomises the concept of professionalism in medicine.”

Three Fellowships of the NZMA were also awarded this week. They went to:

Dr Keith Gibb, GP from Christchurch. He worked as a solo GP in a Hoon Hay practice, and initiated the Hoon Hay Medical Centre and worked there until his retirement in 1997. His long involvement with the NZMA includes being a former NZMA President, Chair of the Ethics Committee, President of the Canterbury Division, and Chair of the NZMA Public Issues Committee.

Dr Brian Linehan, Hamilton, combined his career as a chemical pathologist with a 24-year military service, where he rose to the rank of Colonel and the position of Assistant Director of Medical Services New Zealand Land Forces. He has held a variety of NZMA positions, including Chairman, and Chair of the National Ethics Committee. He represented the NZMA at the Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania for a number of years, becoming Chairman and then President.

Michael Shackleton, surgeon of Otago. In 1963 he established and led a New Zealand surgical team in Qui Nhon, Vietnam, under the auspices of the Colombo Plan. Until East Timor, this was New Zealand’s biggest ever overseas medical operation and was sustained until 1975. He was a long time consultant and surgeon at Dunedin Hospital. His NZMA involvement includes NZMA President, Chair of the Central Specialists Committee, and Chair of the Ethics Committee.

ENDS

© Scoop Media