Wāhine Māori in Surgery
By Vision Research Foundation
Māori doctors comprise less than 1% of surgeons in New Zealand. The number of female Māori surgeons are even fewer. This is a significant inequity in our medical workforce that has not been adequately investigated or addressed. There is also a background of under-representation of women in surgery, with women comprising only 18% of surgeons in NZ.
There is evidence to suggest that enabling Māori women to advance in surgical careers will have positive long-term intergenerational effects on whānau and entire communities. International and national research has shown that culture has a significant impact on the doctor-patient relationship, influencing how patients understand their health, seek treatment, and respond to treatment. Also, at a systemic level, more Māori and Pacific health professionals are crucial to the discussions to address inequity in health outcomes for indigenous populations.
Māori women experience higher rates of the leading causes of death in NZ: cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, breast cancer, and bowel cancer. Studies have shown that Māori present later to doctors and are offered fewer treatment options. By addressing the inequity in the healthcare profession, we hope to contribute to action on these major health inequities.
This research project aims to explore the barriers for young Māori women in undertaking surgical careers and to establish a mentorship programme to support young Māori women medical students on their journey. The information from the summer studentship will be used to plan a hui, with a similar in concept to the Rotary Science and Technology programme for students, but with a focus on Māori women at the secondary and medical school level. This research will be undertaken under the umbrella of Puāwaitanga – Wāhine Māori Surgical Mentoring Programme. Mentors involved in this programme include; Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer, Ophthalmic Surgeon and Scientific Director at Vision Research Foundation, Dr Simone Freundlich, first Māori woman on the surgical ophthalmic training programme, Ms Naomi Manu, Founder of Pūhoro Stem Academy and Tania Te Whenua, Co-Founder of Puāwaitanga, Wāhine Māori Surgical Mentoring Programme.
“Enabling wāhine Māori into medical careers will have positive long-term intergenerational effects on whānau and entire communities.”
The summer studentship is a 10-week programme mentoring one wāhine Māori student through a clinical and research programme. The studentship with include a clinical component – where the student will observe and participate in clinics and in a surgical environment. There will also be a research component – where the student will undertake a literature search and use this to aid the design of a structured interview for Māori medical students. The results will be analysed and based on the findings a mentorship programme will be designed.
The Wāhine Māori Hui will be held in the first half of 2023 (expected date April 2023) and attended by wāhine Māori medical students and secondary school students interested in a career in medicine. The hui speakers will include; female Māori surgeons, Māori medical students, Rangatira, representatives from the University of Auckland and the College of Surgeons.
This Summer Studentship will provide the foundations for the Puāwaitanga, Wāhine Māori Surgical Mentoring Programme. This programme will be designed with consultation from important stakeholders including Māori secondary school and medical students, Māori female surgeons, iwi and representatives from University of Auckland, and Royal Australian College of Surgeons. We anticipate that Puāwaitanga, Wāhine Māori Surgical Mentoring Programme will be ongoing and lead to supporting and mentoring young women through their journey to become surgeons.
Makayla Kahi, Ngāti Kauwhata, is this years Vision Research Foundation summer studentship winner. She has a certificate in health science and is currently a third-year medical student at the University of Auckland. She is also a tutor lead at the Pūhoro STEMM Academy. Makayla has been involved with Māori research projects with the Liggins Institute and with the TBI Health Group NZ.
Third Year Medical Student – VRF Summer Studentship Winner
