Five minutes with Dr Marlize Alberts

Marlize on the job

Marlize in one of her hand-knitted creations

FIVE MINUTES

with Dr Marlize Alberts

Marlize is an SMO in the emergency department at Waikato Hospital and is Vice President of ASMS’ Waikato Branch. She trained in South Africa and came to New Zealand in 2006.

What inspired you to get into your field of medicine?

I have always wanted to be a doctor, at least since I found out that girls could become doctors! My love affair with emergency medicine began with first aid training in primary school. I guess it is the variety and unpredictability that appeals to me, and of course the adrenaline! I did, however, opt out of specialist training. The study doesn’t scare me, but the pressure of competing for training positions and the nomadic lifestyle of a registrar just put me off. So, I work as a MOSS at Waikato ED. I am currently working on the Emergency Medicine Diploma through ACEM.

What are some of the challenging aspects of your job?

The biggest challenge over the past few years has been short staffing in the face of growing patient numbers. We see more than double the number of patients that we saw six years ago. Patients also tend to be older, with higher acuity and more complex pathology.

What do you find rewarding about your job?

When people come to the emergency department, they are generally having a pretty bad day. My aim is always to try and make a terrible experience a little less bad. Getting a half smile from someone who was crying a little while ago is a good feeling! I also love the technical part of my work, like getting a good reduction on a broken wrist or putting a complicated wound back together.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the health system?

Besides Covid-19? Inadequate funding. We are expected to deliver first class medical care, but Governments do not want to pay for it. I am afraid I am a bit of a socialist, I do not believe that health should be reserved for the wealthy. It should be universal, appropriate and tax funded. I believe that the country can afford anything we prioritise. As someone said: we have the health system we pay for.

What keeps you happy outside work?

My husband and my cats! I read A LOT, and I make stuff. I sew, knit, quilt, crotchet and do embroidery. I have also taken up pottery in the last year. Doing something creative is a physical need for me, like eating and sleeping. It also forces me to slow down and to let go – accepting little imperfections as part of the process.

Why did you want to be involved with ASMS?

Being involved with the union gives me a voice. We all struggle and complain about stuff to each other; being able to express these concerns to the people at the top is quite empowering.

Bay of Plenty psychiatrist Dr Mark Lawrence (Te Rarawa, Te Aupo -uri and Nga - Puhi) has been confirmed as ASMS’ new National Executive member.

He was elected unopposed to the vacant position in region two left by Annette van Zeist Jongman. Mark is part of a community adult psychiatry team and works within an integrated model of care within both kaupapa Ma -ori and mainstream services at Tauranga Hospital. He is also a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland School of Medicine, teaching and examining undergraduate psychiatry students. Last year Mark was elected as a Director of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. He is looking forward to learning more about ASMS and believes he will bring a different perspective to the National Executive. Welcome Mark, we look forward to working with you.

Dr Mark Lawrence

New Years Honours

Several ASMS or former ASMS members were recognised in the New Year honours list.

Professor Joel (Jim) Mann became a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Professor Mann has pioneered research relating to noncommunicable disease prevention and management at the University of Otago’s Departments of Medicine and Human Nutrition since 1988. His epidemiological and nutrition-related research has informed world-leading interventions in the fields of coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Mr Prodhumun Dayaram was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to orthopaedics. Mr Dayaram was an orthopaedic surgeon on the West Coast for more than 35 years – ten of those as the sole orthopaedic surgeon for the region. He led the West Coast in many ‘first’ surgeries in New Zealand, including the first to use the technique of arthroscopy and first of two surgeons to perform carpal tunnel surgery through keyhole surgery for faster recovery time. Mr Dayaram retired last year. Dr Clare Healy was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medical forensic education. Dr Healy has been working for and with people affected by sexual assault, abuse, family violence and non-fatal strangulation through Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa (MEDSAC) for more than 25 years. She has helped lead the primary health care response to family violence in Canterbury.

Dr Lindsay Francis James Mildenhall

was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neonatal intensive care and resuscitation training. He specialises in the care of newborn babies and until recently held the position of Clinical Head of Kidz First’s Neonatal Intensive and Special Care Service at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital – a role he had been in since September 1998. Dr Christopher David Moyes was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health. Dr Moyes, who previously worked at Whakata - ne Hospital, has been treating those with hepatitis B and C virus for 40 years, in addition to his work as a paediatrician. He played a key role in researching the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B and convinced the Government to roll out a fully funded hepatitis B vaccination for all infants. He has been Medical Director of the Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand for many years, supporting 30,000 patients.