Lance O'Sullivan is a New Zealand Māori doctor practising in
Kaitaia, Northland. He was declared New Zealander of the Year 2014 for bringing
health programmes to disadvantaged in rural areas.
Lance and
his wife, Tracy, set up the low-cost health clinic "Te Kohanga
Whakaora" (The Nest of Wellness) to make basic healthcare accessible for
people in the Far North. He has stated: "I see people on a daily basis who
can't afford to see me, who can't afford to pay for their medications. We have
emergency prescription funds donated to our clinic from New Zealanders around
the country who heard about us".
Lance also
set up the "Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (Moko) programme", Northland's
first full-time, school-based health clinic, providing medical care to 2000
children across the region, as well as the "Kainga Ora (Well Home)
initiative", which promotes the idea of fixing rundown homes, as he
believes that wellness begins in safe warm homes. Lance is also the
developer of the vMOKO medical app, that helps to deal with medical issues as
they are found from any location in New Zealand.
Early intervention and
prevention of disease and illness is of critical importance to the health and
wellbeing of our society. This is especially vital when we are treating
children who are at risk of becoming critically unwell and in need of the
life-saving services of intensive care units around the country.
Dr Lance O’Sullivan has had a wide
range of experiences dealing with unwell children from his time as an emergency
doctor in Kaitaia Hospital through to his time as a general practitioner in a
high needs community.
Lance is very passionate about
using new models of health to increase the reach of health to children and
young people of New Zealand. He is excited about the potential of digital technology
- such as cloud, artificial intelligence, block chain and a host of other
internet-based initiatives - coupled with medicine to improve exponentially the
health and wellbeing of children and young people in New Zealand.
Lance has many personal and
professional stories to tell about the importance of high level and intensive
health services for children. He is very keen to come along to the conference to
share some of his insights and learnings in the digital health space and the
significant impact on improved health outcomes for children and young people.
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