As part of our milestone year, we are opening 2026 with a series of CME evenings that reconnect past and present members, celebrate our heritage, and highlight the strength of our executive and extended leadership.

 

Join us for a walk through six decades of history over 2026 as TMF celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. 

Mr Nicholas Steventon is a graduate of the University of Cambridge,

completing his MB BChir in 1991 and gained Fellowship in Otolaryngology (FRCS Orl) in 2003. He has worked within ENT services at Taranaki Base Hospital and currently practises privately in New Plymouth. Alongside his clinical career, Mr Steventon has made a significant contribution to ENT education. He is co-author of the Oxford Handbook of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, including its second and third editions — a widely used clinical reference for medical students, trainees and clinicians.
Mr Steventon has a longstanding connection with the Taranaki Medical Foundation, having previously served as its Secretary and as a member of the Executive. 
In TMF’s 60th anniversary year, Mr Steventon returns to share how his specialty changed the world bringing together the history, innovation and changing face of a specialty that has evolved considerably over the course of his career.

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RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

Dr Juliet Elvy is a specialist Clinical Microbiologist with expertise in antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship, and the effective use of microbiology testing in clinical practice.

A graduate of the University of Nottingham Medical School, Juliet completed specialist training in Medical Microbiology in the United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. Since moving to New Zealand, she has held consultant microbiologist roles across Nelson, Wellington and Taranaki and now works with Awanui Labs Te Waipounamu. Juliet also contributes nationally through the New Zealand Microbiology Network, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Advisory Committee, and the New Zealand Pathology National Clinical Network.

Her work supports clinicians in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases, with a strong focus on using diagnostic testing and antimicrobial therapy wisely.

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An RSVP would be appreciated for CME administration and catering

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Supporting safer analgesic stewardship across primary and secondary care.

Why is Taranaki's opioid use attracting attention? More importantly, do you know your own prescribing profile? Join Dr Yvonne Murray and Dr Denise Greene as they explore contemporary approaches to pain management and medication-related harm : from opioids, ketamine and gabapentinoids to methoxyflurane and concomitant benzodiazepine use. The session will also tackle the challenging clinical territory where pain and distress overlap, with practical approaches to supporting patients while prescribing safely.​

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Zoom recordings available - please email to request.​

Dr Lisa Connelly, MD (USA), FAAD, FRACP, is a Specialist Paediatric Dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience treating conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails. After completing her Dermatology Residency at the University of Minnesota and a Paediatric Dermatology Fellowship at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, she made New Zealand her home.
One of only a handful of paediatric dermatologists in New Zealand, and the only specialist based in New Plymouth, Dr Connelly provides expert care for both children and adults across Taranaki and the central North Island. Renowned for her practical, patient-centred approach, she brings a wealth of clinical experience and valuable insights that translate directly into everyday primary care practice.​​

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Zoom recordings available - please email to request.​​

Dr Yariv Doron is an Israeli trained Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who has lived in Taranaki since 2012. With more than a decade of experience across child mental health, neurodevelopment, and neuropsychiatry, he has held clinical leadership roles both in Israel and within Taranaki CAMHS, and has contributed nationally through telehealth and digital health advisory work.
He is the founder of Space of Mind, where he integrates evidence based tools including MOXO and video-based assessment, to improve ADHD diagnostic accuracy. His current Major Project funding focuses on developing a cost effective digital system to enhance ADHD assessment in New Zealand children.
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Zoom recordings available - please email to request.​

As part of the Taranaki Medical Foundation’s 60th Anniversary CME Series, this session brings together a multidisciplinary panel to explore key issues in men’s health through a practical, discussion-based format grounded in real-world clinical care. 

Moderated by Dr Thomas Cartier, this session draws on a structured panel approach to facilitate thoughtful discussion across primary and secondary care perspectives. Mr Nigel Henderson (General Surgeon) will act as lead panelist, with fellow specialist panelists - Mr James Johnston (Urology) and Dr Ian Smiley (General Practice) offering insights grounded in the Taranaki healthcare setting. 

This session is designed to bring clinicians together across disciplines to explore real-world questions in men’s health. Through a combination of clinical prompts and audience-submitted questions, the discussion will reflect the challenges, uncertainties, and decision-making faced in everyday practice.

Open to all clinicians, the panel encourages shared learning, practical insight, and collaborative discussion across primary and secondary care.

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Professor Yvonne Anderson is a New Zealand–trained paediatrician and internationally recognised leader in community child health, paediatric endocrinology, and equitable models of care. She is Professor of Community Child Health at Curtin University, the Telethon Kids Institute, and Child & Adolescent Health Services in Western Australia, and previously served for over a decade as a Consultant Paediatrician at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Her award‑winning research focuses on improving child wellbeing through community‑driven, evidence‑based programmes. She is also Chair of the Tamariki Pakari Child Health and Wellbeing Trust.

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RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

Professor Yvonne Anderson is a New Zealand–trained paediatrician and internationally recognised leader in community child health, paediatric endocrinology, and equitable models of care. She is Professor of Community Child Health at Curtin University, the Telethon Kids Institute, and Child & Adolescent Health Services in Western Australia, and previously served for over a decade as a Consultant Paediatrician at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Her award‑winning research focuses on improving child wellbeing through community‑driven, evidence‑based programmes. She is also Chair of the Tamariki Pakari Child Health and Wellbeing Trust.

Professor Anderson joins TMF as a Visiting Professor, returning to Taranaki to share her expertise through a CME session, Grand Round, and a public community event.

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RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

Professor Yvonne Anderson is a New Zealand–trained paediatrician and internationally recognised leader in community child health, paediatric endocrinology, and equitable models of care. She is Professor of Community Child Health at Curtin University, the Telethon Kids Institute, and Child & Adolescent Health Services in Western Australia, and previously served for over a decade as a Consultant Paediatrician at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Her award‑winning research focuses on improving child wellbeing through community‑driven, evidence‑based programmes. She is also Chair of the Tamariki Pakari Child Health and Wellbeing Trust.

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RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

As part of the Taranaki Medical Foundation’s 60th Anniversary CME Series, this session examines how we optimise patients for surgery — from referral decisions for joint replacement to broader peri-operative risk assessment and anaesthetic planning.

Bringing together orthopaedic and anaesthetic perspectives, the evening will focus on practical guidance to support timely referral, identification of modifiable risk factors, and safe surgical preparation for patients across our region. Join our previous TMF Treasurers, Mr Ritwik Kejriwal and Dr Duncan Brown for this session.​

For more information about this CME event - here

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RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

Past and present presidents open the year’s CME event at Yarrow’s Stadium Suites. Join Dr Matthew Dalman, Dr Madeleine Henderson and Dr Peter Rich for an evening of reflection over time and generational gem practice tips.

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Full event details, including speaker biographies, are available here

RSVP required for catering, venue, and administrative planning.

Key Learnings from the TMF Summer Student Research Spotlight

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Our 2026 Summer Student Research Spotlight showcased locally grounded projects with direct implications for patient care across Taranaki:

• Haemodialysis access: A retrospective audit found retrograde tunneled haemodialysis catheters showed longer survival trends, with similar cost and insertion time compared to antegrade approaches informing future procedural decision-making.

• Paediatric diabetes: Following October 2024 Pharmac funding of Continuous Glucose Monitors, HbA1c levels dropped below national targets for both rural and urban children, with reduced inequities between Māori and non-Māori patients. Families also reported improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and better quality of life.

• Rural paediatric transfers: Nearly half of children transferred from Hāwera to Taranaki Base Hospital were discharged within 24 hours, suggesting potential for local observation pathways supported by telemedicine.

• Sexual health equity: Screening data highlighted underrepresentation of males and Pacific peoples despite higher infection rates, pointing to the need for targeted outreach and culturally appropriate engagement.

 

These projects reflect TMF’s commitment to supporting emerging clinicians, strengthening local research, and improving health outcomes for our community.

 

A recording of the session is available on request. Please email to enquire.

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