The Dunedin School of Medicine has just announced that Professor Joanne ‘Jo’ Baxter (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) will take over the Dean’s role from July 2022. She will be the first wahine Māori to ever hold the role.
A prominent researcher that focused on Māori mental health, equity, indigenous medical education and Māori health workforce development, Prof Baxter is currently Kaiwhakahaere Matua (Director) at the Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori, in the Division of Health Sciences. She is also a Professor for Māori Health within the Dunedin School of Medicine, and sits on the Ministry of Health’s national Workforce Advisory Committee.
Among students, she is also well-known for her teaching, leading the Māori Health major in the Bachelor of Health Science as well as coordinating teaching on Hauora Māori within the medical school programme. A fifth-year medical student spoken to by Critic Te Arohi described her as “incredibly passionate and engaging as a lecturer”.
In a University press release, Prof Baxter said: “Leadership positions are a privilege, and I feel very privileged to have been appointed”. She emphasised that “Māori values underpin my approach to leadership, including values of whakawhanaungatanga - strong relationships and connections, whakamana - upholding mana and integrity, and manaakitanga - generosity, support and looking after”.
Vice-Chancellor Professor David Murdoch said in a statement that “Professor Baxter brings the passion, skills, experience and perspective to ensure we will continue to develop. She is also the first wahine Māori to hold this position… As we continue to better acknowledge both the necessity and great benefits of equity and representation, I am certain she won’t be the last.”
Prof Baxter will take over from Professor Rathan Subramaniam, who resigned in October last year.