NZMA honour awarded to Professor Peter Davis

NZMA honour awarded to Professor Peter Davis

Top New Zealand health researcher Professor Peter Davis is this year’s recipient of the New Zealand Medical Association’s highest honour, the Chairman’s Award for 2003.

Professor Davis has made a major contribution to improving the health of New Zealanders through his wide-ranging research which includes, most recently, studies of adverse events in public hospitals.

Health services and health policy research, most recently in the quality of care, have been a consistent theme of his work. His extensive research history also includes studies of general practice, indicators to evaluate social inequality and socio-economic status, policy analysis and development, access to primary care, pharmaceuticals, hospital quality, and AIDS.

“We are honoured to award our highest accolade to a researcher of the stature of Professor Peter Davis,“ said Dr Tricia Briscoe, Chairman of the New Zealand Medical Association.

“His research has been invaluable in collecting information which will help our health services improve outcomes for patients.”

With regard to the recent studies about adverse events in hospitals, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, Dr Briscoe said: “The research shows that quality assurance and attention to the capability of systems within our health service appear to be the best ways for us to continue to improve standards of care.”

The study lists improved education, improved resources, quality assurance, communication and systems reorganisation as areas having the potential to reduce adverse events

Peter Davis is Professor of Public Health at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago. He also holds honorary professorial positions in Statistics and in Community Health at the University of Auckland and in Sociology at the University of Canterbury, and has worked extensively overseas and in collaborative international research projects.

He has published about a dozen books and over a hundred articles, and was recently appointed a Senior Editor with the international journal Social Science and Medicine.

The NZMA Chairman’s Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to the health of New Zealanders.

Professor Davis will receive his award at an NZMA function in Wellington 2 December, starting at 5.30pm.

ENDS

© Scoop Media