Our members come from all aspects of rural health and wellbeing professions including nursing, midwifery, allied health, general practice and rural hospital medicine. We work in rural hospitals, primary care, tertiary institutions, and professional Colleges and committed to undertaking research that will improve health outcomes for whānau and the communities we live and work with.
Our research and education advice will underpin and support the Hauora Taiwhenua Council, Board, and management team in setting our strategic direction and advocacy for equitable health outcomes across rural Aotearoa NZ.
We will work with rural communities and rural health and wellbeing groups to identify key research questions and find ways to provide well researched and uniquely rural solutions to them.
We are just as passionate about building the capacity and capability in those wanting to be involved in rural research and education, while striving to achieve equity for Māori in this field.
By collaborating across all Chapters, we will provide an evidence-based approach to developing a rural health and wellbeing strategy.
Ross is a Professor of Population Health at the University of Waikato. He has worked as a rural GP and hospital doctor before going into public health. He has 40 years’ experience of rural research and has served on the Boards of the NZIRH and the NZRGPN.
Sampsa is a Senior Clinical lecturer in Rural health at Rural Health Academic Centre Ashburton and RHM specialist at Dunstan Hospital. Teaching interests include interprofessional education and simulation-based learning. Research interests include procedural sedation and rural education development.