Dr Lance O'Sullivan

The Moko Foundation, Kaitaia, NZ


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.