Professor Suzanne Pitama (Ngāti Kahungunu)

BA, MA (First Class Hons), PGDipEdPsych, PhD (Otago). NZSPsS
Dean and the Head of Campus, University of Otago, Christchurch, NZ

Suzanne is the Dean of the University of Otago Medical School.  Suz is a registered psychologist and a New Zealand Psychological Society member.  Suz has been involved in Māori health research and health professional education for over 20 years. Her work has included the development of an Indigenous Health model of health, which supports Indigenous and non-Indigenous health professionals signpost cultural competency and safety within their practice.  Suzanne has received several awards, including the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for tertiary teaching excellence and the Indigenous Leadership Award and Lifetime Award from the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME). Suzanne was awarded the Joan Metge Medal for her research in Indigenous medical education and the Dame Marie Clay Award for contributions to educational and developmental psychology.

The Meihana Model –  Does it Apply to Pain Management?

The Meihana Model was developed as a tool to support Māori and non-Māori clinicians decolonise their practice to support achieving health equity for Māori patients/whānau.  It is used widely by multiple health professional disciplines in different clinical and community contexts.  This presentation will provide a brief overview of the Meihana Model and give space to discuss whether there is a place for the Meihana Model in pain management.​