Head of the University of Otago department of medicine and clinical nephrologist in the Southern District Health Board Prof Robert Walker was the star of the joint School of Medicine and SDHB excellence awards last night.
Prof Walker was awarded a $50,000 research development investment for his work studying how ageing kidneys function in individuals who have conditions including diabetes.
He was also awarded the Dean's Medal for exceptional and ongoing work in the Dunedin School of Medicine.
Prof Walker said the medal was a recognition of the work of numerous people. "This medal goes to a large number of people that I work with.''
He credited clinicians, pharmacists, people involved with national and international trials, and people who worked in laboratories.
"This medal is a recognition of all these wonderful people, not just me,'' he said.
A University of Otago statement about the awards praised Prof Walker's achievements.
"His research has covered a broad range of topics relating to kidney function that has resulted in well over 200 academic papers and representation on a number of national and international societies engaged in research on kidney function.''
The medal was awarded by Dunedin School of Medicine dean Prof Barry Taylor.
Prof Taylor said Prof Walker had a good combination of teaching and research experience.
Dunedin School of Medicine associate dean of research Prof Stephen Robertson presented other school awards to acknowledge the work of research support staff and high-quality publications by local researchers.
RECIPIENTS:
Dunedin School of Medicine dean's research medal: (for excellence in research): Prof Robert Walker (medicine).
Dunedin School of Medicine awards: (2016 research development investments): Prof Robert Walker (medicine).
Southern District Health Board awards: Older persons' health, clinical support and community directorate award: Luciana Blaga (occupational therapist); health service delivery: Craig McKenzie (pharmacist unit manager), Dr Chris Jackson (oncologist).
Health research awards: Research support person award: Mrs Pauline Dawson (women's and children's health); best collaboration award: Dr Susan Jack (preventive and social medicine); research publication awards: Prof Kate Scott (psychological medicine), Associate Prof Julia Horsfield (pathology), Prof Philip Hill (preventive and social medicine); best published paper by masters or PhD student: Imogen Roth (pathology).
Dunedin School of Medicine prizes and scholarships: Gil Barbezat summer studentship prize: Aaron Chester (supervised by department of women's and children's health); highly commended: Candy Tang (supervised by department of women's and children's health); Lady King Scholarship: Dr Leehe Vardi (women's and children's health); Dunedin School of Medicine strategic scholarship: Dr Joyce Lim (surgical sciences); clinical research scholarship: Dr Sam Taylor (surgical sciences); Super Summer studentship award: Michael Yuan (pathology), Joshua Quon (pathology).
Dunedin School of Medicine departmental awards: Medicine (research support award): Ms Anne Ryalls; general practice and rural health (Jan Breward award for research excellence in general practice): Dr Fiona Doolan-Noble; women's and children's health (outstanding sustained contribution to research): Dr Ben Wheeler (children's health); pathology (emerging researcher award): Dr Tania Slatter, (research support award): Anna Wiles; preventive and social medicine (early career research award): Lindsay Robertson, Hauora Maori leadership award: Dr Emma Wyeth, award for research impact: Associate Prof Tony Reeder, biostatistics award: Dr Claire Cameron, research support award: Anne-Cathrine Petersen.
