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Medicine school loses 13th academic
18 November 2003
Another senior researcher has quit Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine - the 13th academic to leave in the past two years.
Head of Public Health Alistair Woodward has resigned to take up the position of head of the School of Population Health at Auckland University. He has been at the Wellington medical school for nine years.
Professor Woodward said he had enjoyed his time in Wellington but felt it was time to move on and the opportunity in Auckland had been too good to pass up.
However, an inside source said the resignations had been coming thick and fast since the high-profile departure of world-renowned asthma researcher Richard Beasley, who left in 2001.
At the time, sources said there was widespread dissatisfaction within the school about the way it was being run and managed.
An insider said yesterday there was widespread concern among the medical staff, "but nobody is in a position to put their finger on a pulse - it's just too big or too deeply hidden - but there's something wrong and we know that".
School dean John Nacey said many of those who left had taken up promotions elsewhere, and he was not worried about the number of departures.
"We don't have any issues for concern at all with the staffing level of the school, and we think we have a very good complement of high-calibre people," Prof Nacey said.
Prof Beasley established the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, and is still based in Wellington.
Others include asthma researchers Shaun Holt and Neil Pearce. Dr Holt is now director of P3 Research and Prof Pearce was based at Wellington's Massey campus, along with top sleep researcher Philippa Gander.
Harry McNaughton has joined Prof Beasley at the institute.
Renal physician Grant Pidgeon quit the school, as did senior cardiology lecturer David McHaffie. Both still work as doctors for the Capital and Coast District Health Board. Oncologist Mike Findlay moved to Auckland.
Those to head overseas include former associate dean of postgraduate affairs Cath Mcpherson, who went to Britain's University of Southampton, and research dean Phil Weinstein moved to Australia.
Associate dean of research Penny Fitzharris, an allergist immunologist, went to Britain, and senior lecturer Stefan Grebe left to take a position at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
In addition, the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, along with its 50 staff, announced three months ago it would leave the medical school for Victoria University.
Institute director of research Professor Graham Le Gros said the move was a collaboration with Victoria University, which had a strong science base, and it would relieve cramped conditions.
Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine has housed the institute since 1979.
18 November 2003
Another senior researcher has quit Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine - the 13th academic to leave in the past two years.
Head of Public Health Alistair Woodward has resigned to take up the position of head of the School of Population Health at Auckland University. He has been at the Wellington medical school for nine years.
Professor Woodward said he had enjoyed his time in Wellington but felt it was time to move on and the opportunity in Auckland had been too good to pass up.
However, an inside source said the resignations had been coming thick and fast since the high-profile departure of world-renowned asthma researcher Richard Beasley, who left in 2001.
At the time, sources said there was widespread dissatisfaction within the school about the way it was being run and managed.
An insider said yesterday there was widespread concern among the medical staff, "but nobody is in a position to put their finger on a pulse - it's just too big or too deeply hidden - but there's something wrong and we know that".
School dean John Nacey said many of those who left had taken up promotions elsewhere, and he was not worried about the number of departures.
"We don't have any issues for concern at all with the staffing level of the school, and we think we have a very good complement of high-calibre people," Prof Nacey said.
Prof Beasley established the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, and is still based in Wellington.
Others include asthma researchers Shaun Holt and Neil Pearce. Dr Holt is now director of P3 Research and Prof Pearce was based at Wellington's Massey campus, along with top sleep researcher Philippa Gander.
Harry McNaughton has joined Prof Beasley at the institute.
Renal physician Grant Pidgeon quit the school, as did senior cardiology lecturer David McHaffie. Both still work as doctors for the Capital and Coast District Health Board. Oncologist Mike Findlay moved to Auckland.
Those to head overseas include former associate dean of postgraduate affairs Cath Mcpherson, who went to Britain's University of Southampton, and research dean Phil Weinstein moved to Australia.
Associate dean of research Penny Fitzharris, an allergist immunologist, went to Britain, and senior lecturer Stefan Grebe left to take a position at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
In addition, the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, along with its 50 staff, announced three months ago it would leave the medical school for Victoria University.
Institute director of research Professor Graham Le Gros said the move was a collaboration with Victoria University, which had a strong science base, and it would relieve cramped conditions.
Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine has housed the institute since 1979.
