Dr Lily Fraser recognised with top College honour at GP23

A specialist GP and passionate advocate for Māori health has been awarded Distinguished Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

Dr Lily Fraser (Kai Tahu) is dedicated to improving and promoting health equity for Māori and done this through her roles for local, regional, and national organisations, communicating seamlessly in both Te Reo Māori and English.

She was the first ever kura kaupapa graduate to study medicine and receive a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in Aotearoa.

Dr Fraser is a long-term member of Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa (Te ORA) and since 2014 has been Clinical Director of Turuki Health in South Auckland, a clinic which attracts Māori and Pasifika GPs. Here, she was instrumental in implementing a new hauora Māori model of care that was focused on team-based care and providing the very best care to patients and their whānau.

She recently moved to Dunedin and is now Clinical Director for Te Kaika, who provide high-quality, low-cost healthcare and social services for all Māori, Pasifika and low-income communities across the Otago region.

College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “Lily’s compassionate and collaborative approach to improving health outcomes for Māori truly embodies manaakitanga.

“Her commitment to Māori health is also carried through into her teaching and advisory roles at the College. Lily is an active member of Te Akoranga a Māui, our Māori representative group, she has provided guidance on policy and advocacy work, and she assists our Māori registrars as they work towards becoming specialist GPs.”

Dr Fraser also contributed to the College’s ‘specialise as a GP’ campaign where she shared why she chose the general practice specialty and how the workforce makes a difference to the lives of their communities.

This year, five College Fellows received Distinguished Fellowship which is awarded for outstanding service to the College or Division of Rural Hospital Medicine’s work and for making a sustained contribution to general practice, medicine, or the health and wellbeing of the community.

GP23: the Conference for General Practice runs from 21-23 July in Auckland.