But Samara O’Neill hopes a couple of years at Harvard University will give her the tools she needs to make it happen.
The University of Otago bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery graduate has been awarded a Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship by the Universities New Zealand scholarships committee to study at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she plans to complete a master’s degree in public administration.
After working as a resident doctor in New Zealand’s publicly funded hospital system for several years, and more recently as a public health registrar in the Office of the Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health in Wellington, she saw first-hand the depth of the "significant pressures and challenges" in the health system.
"It also became apparent to me that much of what influences a person’s wellbeing happens outside the health system, and that not all populations in New Zealand enjoy the same access to health services and the resources required for good health as others."
She said it inspired her to at least attempt to make a difference.
"With this, I decided to specialise in public health medicine and work in public policy, because I believe this is how I can best contribute to population health and health equity globally, and within New Zealand."
Dr O’Neill said her master’s degree would focus on international affairs, and political and economic development, and she would research public health policies and their problems from global, economic and financial perspectives.
She aimed to use the information learnt, alongside "robust" health evidence, to foster global co-operation within public health medicine, and encourage public and private sectors to invest in universally accessible healthcare.
"I want to play an important role in population health and public health policy, including economics, finance, international affairs and political science.
"As a public health doctor, I aim to use these skills and experience to lead evidence-based public policy that improves health, particularly for marginalised populations, including Māori and Pacific communities, and people living in low socioeconomic areas in New Zealand.
"I’m especially interested in mechanisms that can foster sustainable long-term investment in public health, recognising the essential need for universally accessible healthcare."
Dr O’Neill said she was grateful for the fellowship, which provides funding for students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to conduct graduate study at Harvard, for up to two years.
"I look forward to making connections at Harvard, learning from faculty and fellow students with diverse perspectives and professional backgrounds," she said.
"I’m excited to learn at an institution that offers a broad and high-quality academic curriculum and draws students and faculty from across the world."
