GP and IMAC founder awarded Distinguished Fellowship at GP23

Dr Nikki Turner, a prominent GP, academic and Medical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) has been awarded Distinguished Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

Dr Turner’s experience and clinical interest in immunisation and equity within primary and public health have led her to become a sought after and respected voice within the profession.

IMAC has developed into a trusted organisation providing evidence-based clinical advice, guidance, education, training and promotion for vaccines and New Zealand’s national immunisation schedule programme.

College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “Dr Turner’s work in this field throughout the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role as she provided all levels of the health workforce – from government, peers, patients and the public with calm, professional and sound advice around Aotearoa’s COVID-19 vaccination response.

“Her desire to see health equity and eliminate child poverty has been a big driver throughout her career. Nikki truly epitomises the role of a general practitioner we are thankful that she chose this vocation where she can work on the frontline of community medicine, alongside her significant national roles, and truly make a difference to the lives of her patients.”

Previously, Dr Turner worked as a GP in areas of high needs including at the Waipareira Trust in West Auckland and helped to establish a practice at the Auckland City Mission. Now based in Wellington, she works at the Pacific Health Centre in Strathmore, where many patients are immigrants and refugees with complex health needs.

As well as her role as Medical Director of IMAC, Dr Turner is a professor at Auckland University in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care and is a spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group. She is also a member of many national and international advisory research groups.

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 is being help from 21-23 July in Auckland.