Take the next step in your career, enter the world of general practice, and make a difference – your way.  

About the webinar

Hosted by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College), which is the professional body and postgraduate educational institute for general practitioners (GPs) and rural hospital doctors.

Find out more about our General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), which is the three-year post-graduate pathway to a specialist career as a general practitioner. 

Our work is underpinned by kaitiakitanga (service and stewardship), whanaungatanga (collaboration and respect), mana tangata (diversity and inclusion), and auaha (innovation and creativity)

The topics will include:

• typical day as a GP - What does it involve? 
• Hear where a specialisation in general practice can take you over the lifespan of your career. 
• Get an overview of the general practice specialisation the College offers, how it is delivered, and when to apply.
• Find out the nitty gritty about how the programme is delivered and what your day to-day activity as a GPEP will be.
• Get your questions answered during our live Q&A session.

Wednesday 17 November, 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Register: https://rnzcgp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2tDg1XYkRJOPuMHmF2hQXg

Speakers

Dr Samantha Murton – College President
Distinguished Fellow and Wellington GP, Dr Murton became the College President in 2018. She is a Trustee and Medical Director at a high-needs central city practice, and her passion for teaching shows through her roles with the University of Otago as a Trainee Intern co-convenor for medical students and as a lecturer for the Department of Primary Care and General Practice. She has also been involved with the College’s education programme for many years and was the College’s inaugural medical director. Dr Murton was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2021 Queens Birthday Honours for her services to medical education, particularly general practice. Her advice, guidance, and support continue to steer the nation's team of GPs through a time of great uncertainty. 

Dr Bryan Betty – College Medical Director
Dr Betty is a Distinguished Fellow and Wellington based GP, who has practiced for the past 15 years at Porirua Union and Community Health Service in Cannons Creek. With a largely Māori and Pacific population, and high number of refugees, around 90 per cent of his patients have complex health needs. Equity, and issues such as access to quality healthcare for everyone, have been strong motivators throughout his career. During the heat of the global pandemic, Dr Betty was the calm and collected voice of the COVID-19 response team and an advisor on the government’s COVID-19 response committee. 

Dr Rachel Mackie - College Chair of Te Akoranga a Māui and Board Apprentice
Dr Mackie (Ngātiwai) is Chair of Te Akoranga a Māui, the College’s Māori representative group, which is made up of Māori registrars and Fellows. Part of her passion is building on the equity focus that the College has so that tikanga is valued and incorporated into general practices across Aotearoa. In August, Rachel became the College’s new Board Apprentice. She expects her time in the role to allow her to focus on the issues she sees within the workforce or coming through in consultations, and help her push for change. Rachel, based in Auckland, also works as a clinical project lead at Waitemata DHB, working on Māori “pipeline” projects to address issues such as lung cancer and hepatitis C.

Dr Cathy Stephenson – College Clinical Lead Southern
Dr Stephenson is a Wellington GP and Clinical Lead Southern for the GPEP programme, alongside Dr Jason Tuhoe. She currently works at Mauri Ora, Student Health and Counselling Service, and has spent many years as a Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Examiner. She is a trainer at the Police College, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Otago University, and has been part of a team establishing outreach services for Māori and Pacifica students, as well as setting up Victoria University’s primary care-based Gender Affirming Healthcare Clinic. She is a health columnist for New Zealand Doctor, and for 10 years wrote about health and wellbeing for Stuff. 

Dr Melissa Austen – College GP Registrar 
Dr Austen is a second year GP trainee based in Wellington. She works at both Karori Medical Centre and Evolve Youth Health Service; a non-profit, free healthcare service for high-needs rangatahi based in central Wellington. She is currently working to set up a similar service for rangatahi based in Porirua.

Dr Mamaeroa David – College GP Registrar 
Dr David graduated from Auckland Medical School in 2005 and initially trained in Paediatrics, however after the birth of her second child was given the opportunity to try general practice and never looked back. That child is now eight years old. She started her training with the College in 2020, and is now a GPEP2. Her passion lies not just in caring for Tamariki, but also their Whanau. Dr David sees primary care as vital to the health and well-being of Whanau and the communities they live in.