Source: Waikato District Health Board
Associate Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere, an academic staff member in the Division of arts, law, psychology and social sciences (ALPSS) at the University of Waikato, was presented with Te Whatu Ora Medical Science Award at the 13th Annual Kudos Awards Gala Dinner in Hamilton, for working tirelessly to embed kaupapa Māori approaches and principles into medical and health-related research and drawing on mātauranga Māori knowledge to inform medical best practice.
The annual event celebrates the best scientific minds and achievements across the Waikato, Rotorua and Bay of Plenty regions.
Associate Professor Masters-Awatere was recognised for her achievements in integrating kaupapa Māori approaches and principles into medical and health-related research, creating meaningful health impacts for Māori at individual, community, service-provision and national policy levels.
Associate Prof Masters-Awatere has held leadership roles with two distinct research projects at Te Whatu Ora Waikato (He Pikinga Waiora and Harti Hauora Tamariki) as well as external projects that involved collaborative relationships (Hospital Transfers and Haumanu Hauora).
Masters-Awatere states that, “All my research that I do is with identifying what are the key aspirations or values for Māori, what are the leverage points, what’s missing, what’s been identified as an aspiration, where is the gap in terms of achieving it and how does that connect back to the documents.”
“I have been involved in multiple projects with the Waikato DHB (now Te Whatu Ora Waikato), including one that involved recruiting 1,000 whānau about their hospital care. My team did interviews with whānau as a result of the initial findings… Another project involved looking at 10 years’ worth of data from the Ministry of Health to examine patterns and how systems impacted on whānau.”
“In both of those projects we interviewed clinicians, hospital staff and whānau. Through their real-life stories and experiences we were able to get an idea of the gaps, strengths and weakness. From there we could hone in on what was missing, what was working really well and then together work to improve processes in the health system for whānau”
Throughout her publication record, supervisory work, project leadership, and collaborations in the health sector, her focus has been consistent. A pre-eminent indigenous evaluation expert whose work has been hailed as an ‘exemplar of research excellence’, Masters-Awatere strives to improve the health and wellbeing of Māori throughout the Waikato and the country.
This isn’t the last you’ll see or hear from Masters-Awatere as she states that “There’s still more that can be done and I guess that’s what really drives me”.
The other remaining finalists in the Te Whatu Ora Medical Science Award category were:
Dr Etuini Ma’u
His leadership and research are improving our understanding of dementia care needs, particularly in relation to Pacific people.
As our population ages, the number of people with dementia is rapidly increasing. An academic psychologist specialising in mental health services for older people, Dr Ma’u is currently undertaking a PhD looking at dementia prevention, intervention and care with a specific focus on equity issues for Pacific people. His most recent published work on dementia prevention is a NZ-first and also the first time worldwide that a study on this topic has compared two ethnic groups in one country.
Associate Professor Joe Baker
His specialist bent is keeping our backs in good form.
A leading academic orthopaedic surgeon with a specialist interest in spinal deformity and disease, Associate Professor Baker’s research focus is on infection and metastatic cancer of the spine, particularly in children. His work is enhancing understanding of spinal conditions and injuries, predictors of infection and treatment success, as well as refinement of surgical techniques. His role as a researcher, reviewer and a trainer of surgeons is making a huge contribution to patient outcomes in this vital health area.
