Clinical Team

Special Interests

Breast cancer, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, thoracic pathology & molecular testing

Biography

Dr Beardsley is a graduate of the University of Otago medical school, and completed her house officer and Pathology specialist training in Christchurch. After attaining her FRCPA, she commenced an 18 month fellowship in the UK with internationally renowned lung and breast Pathologists at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, and The Royal Brompton and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. She subsequently spent time working at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, and then at St John of God Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, before returning to Christchurch.

Brooke is currently Co-Deputy Clinical Director of the Anatomical Pathology Department and is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago. She has been part of a working group advising on Structured Pathology Data Specification for Lung Cancer and other Thoracic Malignancies for Te Aho O Te Kahu (NZ Cancer Control Agency), and is a member of the expert panel developing the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Structured Reporting protocols for breast pathology.

She is a member of the Pulmonary Pathology Society, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and the Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD).

Brooke is a member of the Breast, and Pulmonary and Thoracic pathology specialist teams, and contributes to the Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and Interstitial Lung Disease multidisciplinary team meetings.

Teams

• Breast Pathology
• Thoracic Pathology

Biography

Coming soon

Special Interests

Bacteriology, Parasitology, tropical infections

Biography

Erik trained as a Clinical Microbiologist, at Aarhus and Aalborg University hospital in Denmark.

He completed a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the Liverpool School of Tropical medicine during this time, and following his specialisation worked in Norway, before joining the Canterbury Health laboratories.

Apart from a specific interest in Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Erik has a broad range of interest and considers himself a generalist in microbiology.

During the Covid-19 pandemic Erik has been a part of the Technical Advisory group.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Dr Erik Otte

Biography

Coming soon

Biography

Coming soon

Special Interests

Antimicrobial resistance, Infections in the Immunocompromised, Fungal infections, Infectious Disease epidemiology, Public health microbiology, One Health

Biography

Julia qualified from St Bartholomew’s Hospital medical school, London and trained as a Clinical Microbiologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London and in Christchurch. She gained her FRCPath (UK) in 2014 and became a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA) in 2018. Prior to training in Clinical Microbiology, she trained and worked in Public Health medicine in the East of England and has a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Cambridge.

She is a member of the RCPA Microbiology Advisory Committee and the New Zealand National Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Committee (NZNAC).

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Dr Julia Howard

Biography

Coming soon

Special Interests

Gastrointestinal pathology, colorectal cancer, Microsatellite instability, inflammatory bowel disease, non-tumour liver pathology; Cytology, FNA biopsies, non-gynaecological cytology, gynaecological cytology; teaching

Biography

Dr Whitehead started his pathology journey in 1990 and trained at Christchurch Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Christchurch Women’s Hospital Pathology departments, becoming a consultant Anatomical pathologist in 1995 as the various hospital pathology departments merged.
Martin worked with others to build up the cytology service Department, becoming involved with community Gynae Cytology and the National Cervical Screening Programme and helping to institute the roaming FNA service that is still a big part of our operation today.

In 2004 Martin went to Burlington, North Carolina (USA) to train in SurePath liquid-based cytology and has been reporting it ever since. He also became involved with the Breast Screening programme when it was first set up, working alongside colleagues from the Community Labs.

Martin developed an interest in Colorectal Pathology and has had a close relationship with the Christchurch Colorectal Surgery team over many years. He went to learn about grading total mesorectal excisions from Professor Phil Quirke from Leeds in the late 90’s. In the early 2000’s he became involved with the Christchurch Familial GI Cancer Registry, collaborating with our laboratory scientific staff to develop immunohistochemical testing for mismatch repair deficiency, and also worked with the Molecular Oncology department (in our Genetics laboratory) as they set up a BRAF V600E platform which then started to get referrals from around the country. Eventually the national NZ Familial GI Cancer Service was formed and Martin still reports MMR immunohistochemistry on paraffin blocks sent to CHL for processing from around the country, on behalf of NZFGICS. He is also an accredited pathologist with the NZ Bowel Screening Programme.

Martin was Medical Director of Anatomical Pathology at CHL from 2000 to 2012. From 2000 -2019 he served as a technical expert assessor for IANZ technical expert and was involved with assessing Labs for the NZ Bowel Screening Programme.

Martin is a member of the GI, HPB, medical liver, cytopathology and paediatric oncology teams and regularly contributes to MDT meetings in these areas.

Teams

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathology
• Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Pathology
• Paediatric Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Cytopathology, cervical screening, HPV testing, FNA diagnosis, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

Biography

Dr Miller trained in Timaru and Dunedin, and subsequently undertook fellowships in diagnostic cytopathology in Perth and Melbourne. He is now Lead Cytopathologist at Canterbury Health Labs and holds a joint appointment at the University of Otago Christchurch Clinical School. Andrew is engaged with undergraduate teaching of medical students in Christchurch and contributes to collaborative teaching of medical students in the Pacific (mainly at Fiji National University FNU) in a joint initiative called the Global Health Classroom (GHCR). In addition, he trains pathology registrars in cytopathology and assists with examination preparation for registrars in Radiology and Oncology disciplines, as well as formal and informal teaching of Postgraduate/Honours students at UOC. Other teaching is provided to a variety of health sector workers including UC Speech Language Therapy students, UOC Open Day sessions, and nursing and allied health professional groups.

Andrew has been a member of the Examinations Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) since 2010 and chaired the Pathology Subcommittee from 2015 to 2019. He has been a member of the national cervical pathology training committee since 2012, and was the RCPA’s representative on the National Cervical Screening Programme Advisory Group from 2014 to 2021.

Research interests include collaborative research with academics in the Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science at UOC, in invasive fungal disease and host responses to malignancy, and study of teaching methods and techniques for medical education, including Integrated pathology and radiology teaching for undergraduate medical students at UOC, and case-based teaching using real-time collaboration in the GHCR between medical students at UOC and students in medical schools in the Pacific (in Fiji at FNU and in Samoa at NUS) as well as a pilot GHCR in Mexico at the School of Medicine Tecnológico De Monterrey (ITESM).

Andrew leads the cytopathology specialty team and contributes to the colposcopy multidisciplinary meeting.

Teams

• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Medical diseases of the kidney, tumours of the kidney, diseases of the urogenital tract (including testis, bladder and prostate), surgical neuropathology, molecular biology of tumours

Biography

After doing an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at Auckland University (winning the Senior Prize for Molecular Biology), Dr Murray completed a degree in medicine and surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago, where he was awarded the Glaxo Smith Kline Prize for 4th year Medicine in 1994, and Distinction in Medicine 1996. He undertook postgraduate training in surgical pathology and cytopathology at Waikato Hospital and Christchurch Hospital, gaining FRCPA in 2003 and taking up a position as Consultant Surgical Pathologist at Canterbury Health Laboratories.
He is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Neuropathology and has special expertise in muscle biopsy interpretation and the assessment of suspected Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD) in brain tissue.

In 2019 Alastair undertook a sabbatical fellowship in the UK, focusing on uropathology (with Prof Dan Berney, Royal London Hospital, and Dr My-Anh Tran, Royal Free Hospital, London) and neuropathology (Prof Colin Smith, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh). For the latter he was awarded a Fellowship from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.

Alastair is a member of the GU, nephrology and neuropathology specialty teams and contributes to the urology, nephrology and neurosurgery multidisciplinary meetings.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Dr Alastair Murray

Teams

• Renal Pathology
• Urological (Genitourinary) Pathology
• Neurological Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Gastrointestinal pathology, colorectal cancer, NET, GIST, diagnostic oncology, tumour biology, multidisciplinary cancer care

Biography

Associate Professor Hemmings is a graduate of Auckland medical school and completed postgraduate training in pathology in Auckland and Christchurch. She then worked in Australia for 15 years (in Canberra and Perth), most recently as Director of Anatomic Pathology and Head of Molecular Oncology at the Bendat Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Perth. She undertook postgraduate fellowships in London and Boston, and completed a PhD at UWA studying radiation response in locally advanced rectal cancer. Chris returned to CDHB in 2018, where her main clinical and research interests are in the fields of gastrointestinal pathology, rare cancers and tumour biology.

Chris is the Bowel Screen Lead Pathologist for Canterbury and West Coast DHB’s, and the reference pathologist for neuroendocrine tumours (NET) for the South Island. She is currently RCPA Vice President (NZ) and serves on a number of committees related to pathology, cancer and clinical governance, including the Clinical Assembly of Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Council of Medical Colleges, the RCPA Cancer Services Advisory Committee, the CDHB Credentials Board, the Canterbury Tissue Bank Board, the executive of the NZ Society for Oncology, and the Scientific Advisory Committee of AGITG (Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group). She chairs the Medical Testing Professional Advisory Committee of IANZ and the Anatomic Pathology Programme Committee for the RCPA’s annual scientific meeting “Pathology Update”, and is an Associate Editor of the journal “Pathology”. In 2019 she received the RCPA’s Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service to the College. In her “spare” time Chris is undertaking postgraduate study in Bioethics and Health Law, through the University of Otago.

In addition to her administrative duties as head of department, Chris is a member of the GI, hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and ophthalmic specialty teams and contributes to the colorectal, upper gastrointestinal and HPB multidisciplinary meetings, and the National Neuroendocrine Tumour meeting.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Assoc Prof Chris Hemmings

Teams

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathology
• Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Pathology
• Ophthalmic Pathology

Special Interests

Gynaecological pathology, renal pathology, cytopathology

Biography

Dr Robertson trained in the United Kingdom and joined Canterbury Health Laboratories in 2016.

Fiona is a member of the gynaecology, renal and cytopathology specialty teams and contributes to the gynaecology, colposcopy and renal meetings.

Teams

• Renal Pathology
• Gynaecological Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

breast pathology; GI pathology, cytopathology

Biography

Dr Lau is a graduate of the University of Otago medical school and completed her pathology training in Palmerston North and Christchurch, gaining FRCPA in 2020 and joining the CHL consultant team where she is developing subspecialty expertise in breast and GI pathology and non-gynaecological cytopathology.

Yung Yung is a member of the breast and gastrointestinal specialty teams and contributes to the colorectal and breast cancer multidisciplinary team meetings.

Teams

• Breast Pathology
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathology

Special Interests

Gastrointestinal pathology, liver pathology, hepatobiliary pathology, paediatric pathology

Biography

Dr Drake is a graduate of the University of Auckland medical school and undertook specialist training in anatomical pathology at Canterbury Health Laboratories and in the Auckland regional training programme. Post-fellowship experience has included 3 months at the Institute of Liver Studies at King’s College Hospital London, as well as regular courses, conferences and seminars. Aside from specialist interests, he maintains a broad general reporting practice across histopathology and non-gynaecologic cytology, including the fine needle aspiration service.

Matt is a member of the GI, HPB, medical liver and paediatric specialty teams and contributes to the Upper GI, HPB, gastroenterology and paediatric oncology multidisciplinary meetings.

Teams

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathology
• Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Pathology
• Paediatric Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Perinatal and placental pathology

Biography

Dr Gearry is a graduate of the University of Otago medical school and completed her pathology training in Wellington, Melbourne and Christchurch, gaining FRCPA in 2009. She is a graduate of the Advanced Course of the International Paediatric Pathology Association (IPPA) and a member of the Society for Paediatric Pathology. Justine is a member of the National Perinatal Pathology Service (NPPS) and Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago.

Justine’s current practice is focused exclusively in perinatal and placental pathology and she contributes to national review of perinatal pathology cases.

Teams

• Perinatal Pathology

Special Interests

Endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical and vulval cancer, gestational trophoblastic disease, HPV testing, gynaecological cytology, non-gynaecological cytology

Biography

Dr van der Griend trained in New Zealand and Australia and is now the Lead Gynaecologic Pathologist at Canterbury Health Labs, specialising in gynaecological oncology and cytology.

Rachael is a member of the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Group (NZGCG) and several international gynaecologic pathology societies including ISGyP, BAGP, ANZGOG, and the IGCS. She is also a member of a number of advisory groups including Te Aho o Te Kahu (NZ Cancer Control Agency), the pathology working group for IGCS, the NZ Gynaecological Tumour Standards working group and the Dataset Authoring committee for ICCR (International Collaboration for Cancer Reporting).

Dr van der Griend is an examiner for the RCPA in Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago.

Rachael is a member of the gynaecology and cytopathology specialty teams and contributes to the gynaecology and colposcopy multidisciplinary meetings.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Dr Rachael van der Griend

Teams

• Gynaecologic Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Lung cancer, lymphoma, tumours of the central nervous system, medical teaching

Biography

Dr Dagger is a graduate of the University of Otago medical school and completed his pathology training in Palmerston North and Christchurch, gaining FRCPA in 2012.

In addition to his diagnostic work, Mark is committed to teaching medical students and postgraduate trainees. He is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago and is a recipient of the University’s Outstanding Teaching Award.

Mark is a member of the pulmonary, neurologic, haematolymphoid and urologic pathology specialty teams and contributes to the lung, neurology, lymphoma and genitourinary multidisciplinary team meetings.

Teams

• Urological (Genitourinary) Pathology
• Lung Pathology
• Neurological Pathology
• Haematolymphoid Pathology & Lymphoma
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Endocrine pathology, head and neck pathology, gynaecology pathology, urologic pathology, renal pathology

Biography

Dr Smith undertook her pathology training in Taranaki, New Zealand and Hobart, Australia. She commenced her role as a Senior medical Officer at Christchurch Hospital in 2013 where she has developed an interest in head and neck pathology, gynaecology and medical renal work. She is also an enthusiastic participant of undergraduate teaching, and is Director of Training for the Anatomical Pathology trainees.

Heather is a member of the endoocrine, head and neck, gynaecology, urologic and nephrology specialty teams, and contributes to multidisciplinary meetings in these areas.

Teams

• Renal Pathology
• Gynaecological Pathology
• Urological (Genitourinary) Pathology
• Endrocrine Pathology
• Head & Neck Pathology
• Oral Pathology

Special Interests

Bone and soft tissue pathology, sarcoma, dermatopathology, skin cancer, inflammatory skin disorders, fine needle aspiration biopsy, cytopathology

Biography

Dr Thorne completed her medical training in Cambridge (UK) in 2002 before moving to New Zealand where she trained in Anatomical Pathology, gaining her FRCPA qualification in 2009. She spent two years working as a consultant Pathologist for Medlab South in Christchurch before returning to the UK and spending several months working at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, pursuing her interest in bone and soft tissue pathology. Hannah joined Canterbury Health Labs as a consultant Pathologist in 2013, where she is lead pathologist for bone and soft tissue pathology.

Hannah is a member of the sarcoma and dermatopathology specialist teams and attends multidisciplinary team meetings in these areas.

Teams

• Skin Pathology
• Musculoskeletal Pathology
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

Perinatal pathology, cytopathology, gynaecologic pathology

Biography

Dr McBurnie is a graduate of the University of Dundee Medical School in Scotland. Wendy moved to New Zealand in 2010 and completed her pathology training in Christchurch, gaining FRCPA in 2016. She is currently undertaking the Advanced Course of the International Paediatric Pathology Association (IPPA) and is a member of the Society for Paediatric Pathology. Wendy is a member of the National Perinatal Pathology Service (NPPS) and is the Registrar Training Co-ordinator for the National Cervical Pathology Training Service in NZ.

Teams

• Cytopathology
• Perinatal Pathology
• Gynaecological Pathology

Special Interests

Head and neck pathology, Gynaecologic pathology, Neuropathology, Pulmonary pathology.

Biography

Dr Lambie trained in Hamilton and Auckland, gaining FRCPA in 1990. He then worked for 10 years at Green Lane Hospital, specialising in cardiothoracic and head and neck pathology. After broadening his subspecialty expertise during a further10 years with Canterbury Health Laboratories, Neil moved to Australia where he worked at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, before returning to Christchurch in 2018. During his time in Sydney Neil served as Registrar of the RCPA for four years.

Neil is a member of the gynaecologic, neurologic, head and neck, oral, pulmonary, endocrine and haematolymphoid specialty teams and contributes to the relevant multidisciplinary teams.

Teams

• Gynaecological Pathology
• Lung Pathology
• Endrocrine Pathology
• Head & Neck Pathology
• Oral Pathology
• Neurological Pathology
• Haematolymphoid Pathology & Lymphoma

Special Interests

Breast pathology, Digital pathology, Computational Pathology/Computer Assisted Diagnosis

Biography

Dr Harris is a UK medical graduate who undertook pathology training in Nottingham, UK. He then embarked on an 18 month period of post-exam subspecialisation in the Breast Pathology Dept, internationally recognised for the development of the breast cancer grading system adopted by the World Health Organisation and used globally. He was lucky enough to train under under Professors Chris Elston, Ian Ellis, Sarah Pinder and Dr Andrew Lee during this time. Folllowing a short stint of working in the UK as consultant pathologist, including within the UK Breast screening program, he emigrated to New Zealand in late 2003 to commence employment at Canterbury Health Laboratories. He has been the lead breast cancer pathologist for over 18 years, led the development of the specialist breast pathology service and was the Director of anatomic pathology for 6 years. He has been involved in multiple national working groups in relation to breast cancer pathology and was the principal applicant for funding the Christchurch hub of the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register/Te Rēhita Mate which commenced data collection in June 2009 and is now a national entity. He is a member of the national Clinical Advisory Group for the register including as Chair for over 4 years.

Gavin is a Director and Member of the Executive Committee of the Australasian Society of Breast Disease, a full member of Breast Cancer Trials and a Clinical Associate of the Maurice Wilkins Centre in Auckland. He has received 5 HRC funding grants for research related to Computational Pathology/Computer Assisted Diagnosis and breast cancer, working with the University of Canterbury and University of Auckland. He is also currently working with Te Aho o Te Kahu as an advisor.

Gavin is lead breast pathologist and regularly attends the breast cancer multidisciplinary meeting.

Teams

• Breast Pathology

Special Interests

haematopathology including lymph node, spleen, bone marrow and thymic pathology; lung pathology; breast pathology; non-gynaecological cytology

Biography

Dr Wright completed her medical training at University College London and then worked at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases where she acquired the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. She trained in Haematology and Anatomic Pathology in New Zealand and the UK and then worked at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge as a Consultant Histopathologist for 15 years with subspecialist interests in Haematopathology, Pulmonary and Breast pathology and Non-gynaecological Cytology. Penny returned to New Zealand to a Consultant Anatomic Pathologist position at Canterbury Health Laboratories in January 2020.

Penny is a member of the haematolymphoid, pulmonary, breast and cytology specialist teams and contributes to the lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary teams. She also attends the haematology morphology meetings with our specialist haematologists.

Teams

• Breast Pathology
• Lung Pathology
• Haematolymphoid Pathology & Lymphoma
• Cytopathology

Special Interests

dermatopathology; skin cancer; melanoma; inflammatory skin disorders; head and neck pathology; soft tissue tumours; non-gynaecological cytopathology

Biography

Dr Bailey is an Australian medical graduate who undertook Anatomical Pathology training in Australia and New Zealand. She developed a particular interest in melanoma pathology and after completing her training in Christchurch was appointed the Deborah and John McMurtrie Fellow at Melanoma Institute Australia (2018-2019),working under the guidance of Professor Richard Scolyer AO, one of the world’s leading melanoma experts.

Teresa is a member of the skin, head and neck, oral, ophthalmic and musculoskeletal specialty teams, and contributes to the Fine Needle Aspiration service.

Teams

• Cytopathology
• Skin Pathology
• Head & Neck Pathology
• Oral Pathology
• Ophthalmic Pathology
• Musculoskeletal Pathology

Biography

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Biography

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Biography

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Biography

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Biography

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Biography

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Special Interests

Special Interests: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, Porphyria, Cardiac markers, Vitamin D, Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine (EBLM).

Biography

Chris graduated in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and MB BS from Kings College Hospital, London before first coming to NZ in 1981. He has served in the Canterbury health system for over 30 years, including 23 years as a Chemical Pathologist with CHL, also as a Physician in the Lipid Disorders clinic and as a clinical teacher and latterly, course convenor for Clinical Chemistry in the University of Otago, Christchurch (UOC).

Chris is a former Vice President (Education and Training) of the Australasian Association for Clinical Biochemistry (AACB), an organisation where he has also served as NZ Branch Chair, as a member of the Porphyria Working Party and as an examiner (MAACB, FAACB) for 6 years. In 2013, he was awarded the AACB Roman Lectureship.

Chris has diverse research activities with a broad focus on how laboratory tests leverage clinically important decision making. Translating this, the journey has been all about building clinical partnerships with many disciplines.
He has authored or co-authored over 200 peer reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences over several decades.

He is an Associate Editor of the Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics – 6th and 7th Editions as well as being a contributor.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Clinical Associate Professor Chris Florkowski

Special Interests

Rare Mendelian disorders, variant curation, genomic analysis

Biography

Cheng Yee is an Otago medical school graduate, and completed her postgraduate training in genetic pathology in Christchurch (Canterbury Health Laboratories) and Sydney (Neuroscience Research Australia and New South Wales Health Pathology, Randwick). She is one of only two genetic pathologists in New Zealand, and her main interests are in the evolving field of variant curation, and genomic analysis of rare Mendelian disorders.

Cheng Yee currently serves in the RCPA Genomic Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia and the Australasian Society of Diagnostic Genetics.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications by Dr Cheng Yee Chan

Special Interests

Lipids & endocrinology

Biography

Simon graduated from the University of Manchester and undertook physician training in the UK before moving to Sydney in 2015. Whilst in Australia, he completed chemical pathology training at NSW Health Pathology, and was appointed as a chemical pathologist with Canterbury Health Laboratories in 2022.

In addition to his laboratory work, Simon has a clinical practice in the lipid clinic at Christchurch Hospital, and is a clinical lecturer at the University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine.