David Skegg
Sir David Skegg | |
|---|---|
 Professor Skegg in 2010 | |
| Born | David Christopher Graham Skegg 16 December 1947 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Education | University of Otago University of Oxford |
| Alma mater | Balliol College |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Epidemiology |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
| Doctoral students | Lianne Parkin |
Sir David Christopher Graham Skegg KNZM OBE FRSNZ (born 16 December 1947) is a New Zealand epidemiologist and university administrator. He is an emeritus professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011 and president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from 2012 to 2015.[1] His primary research interest is cancer epidemiology.[2][3][4]
Biography
[edit]Skegg was born in Auckland and attended King's College, Auckland. He entered the medical course at the University of Otago, travelling on exchange to Harvard University. He later received a (postgraduate) Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford, joining Balliol College and working with noted epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll.[2][5]
Returning to Otago, Skegg took up the departmental chair in Preventive and Social Medicine in 1980. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011. He was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from July 2012[6] to 2015.
Skegg has acted as a consultant to the World Health Organization and to the New Zealand Government. He chaired the Health Research Council, the Science Board, and the Public Health Commission.[7] In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to medicine,[8] and in the 2009 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to medicine.[9] Later in 2009, he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand Government.[10] He has contributed to the study of cervical, breast and prostate cancer, as well as contraceptives and reproductive health.[11]
Skegg is also the leader of the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, which has advised the New Zealand Government on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. In that capacity, he has advocated an eliminationist approach to containing the pandemic.[12] Under his leadership, the Committee advocated a phased approach towards reopening the country's borders, easing managed isolation requirements for certain travellers, and introducing pre-departure and rapid testing for travellers exiting and entering the country.[13][14]
Notable doctoral students of Skegg's include Lianne Parkin.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Professor David Skegg". University of Otago. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Old Collegian becomes Otago University Chancellor". King's College. 2003. Archived from the original on 22 April 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^ Smirk, Susan (2010). "Skegg". Critic Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- ^ Rutherford, Jill (2004). "To Lead" (PDF). Otago Magazine. University of Otago.
- ^ "Conference of Executive Heads: Invited Speakers". Association of Commonwealth Universities. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009.
- ^ "Royal Society of New Zealand announces new President". Royal Society of New Zealand. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ Skegg, David (2019). The health of the people. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books. p. 141. ISBN 9781988545585. OCLC 1089437275.
- ^ "No. 52383". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1990. p. 30.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Special honours list 1 August 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ Johnston, Martin (31 December 2008). "Honours List: Cancer researcher lifted lid on healthcare faults". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Broughton, Cate (18 July 2021). "Don't give up on eliminating – not eradicating – Covid-19, Kiwi scientists say". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Corlett, Eva (10 August 2021). "New Zealand should take phased approach to border reopening, experts advise". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Malpass, Luke; Cooke, Henry (11 August 2021). "Covid-19 NZ: Government advisory group says borders can open in 2022 without forgoing elimination strategy". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Parkin, Lianne (2008). Risk factors for venous thromboembolism (PhD thesis). OUR Archive, University of Otago.
External links
[edit]- Hancock, Farah (2019). "NZ's deadly public health battle". Newsroom, 16 April 2019.
- "Sir David Skegg: national leadership on public health needed." RNZ, 6 March 2019.
- Lambert, Max (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand (12th ed.). Reed, Auckland. p. 583. ISBN 0-7900-01306.