Pinnacle clinician honoured by Waikato University

Pinnacle clinical director Jo Scott-Jones has been appointed an Honorary Associate Professor in the Division of Health at the University of Waikato for the leadership he has shown in rural health.

The appointment was announced last month. He becomes the second Pinnacle health professional to be honoured after nursing director Jan Adams was appointed two years ago for her work to set up the Bachelor of Nursing programme.

Director of Medicine at the University of Waikato Professor Ross Lawrenson said Dr Scott-Jones had made a “huge contribution” as a health leader who would become an integral member of the team as the University continues to expand its health offerings and awaits a government decision on its proposed graduate entry medical school.

“We want to focus on addressing the rural workforce needs and that is where Jo’s expertise in the field of rural health will be so crucial,” said Prof Lawrenson.

Dr Scott-Jones said he was delighted with his appointment.

His work originally would involve supporting Prof Lawrenson and Associate Professor Lynne Chepulis in the Medical Research Centre using Health Research Council-funded research around diabetes.

Pinnacle’s vision is Kia hauora te katoa, kia puaawai te katoa - Everyone healthy, everyone thriving.

“I’m looking forward to helping progress that vision even further by connecting researchers, teachers, learners and communities through the Pinnacle Midlands Health Network.”

Dr Scott-Jones has been an Ōpōtiki-based GP since 1992. Last year he was awarded Distinguished Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

He has been clinical director at Pinnacle since 2016 where he provides a voice for specialist general practitioners within the leadership team as well as on local, regional and national health organisations.

“We know how complex and extensive clinical exposure in communities is, and this provides a vibrant learning opportunity for health professionals,” said Dr Scott-Jones of the opportunities in rural health.

“Social accountability is a movement in medical education that ensures the work of the university meets the needs of society. Looking to the future, we have the opportunity to learn from international experience of truly connecting how we teach, learn and research to the needs of the community and provide a ‘win-win’ for students and the whānau they connect with in their learning.”

Pinnacle recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the University (as well as two other Waikato-based primary health organisations) as a step forward in their collective effort to tackle New Zealand’s health workforce shortages.