The University of Otago has appointed its Wellington campus dean, Prof Peter Crampton, as the next health sciences pro-vice-chancellor, to succeed Prof Don Roberton early next year.
Prof Crampton (48), who will also become dean of the Otago Faculty of Medicine, was yesterday "absolutely delighted and excited" with the "wonderful opportunity" provided by the new job.
He noted the Otago health sciences division was "an extremely strong component" of the university and contributed strongly at the national level.
Prof Crampton has lived in Wellington for the past 20 years and was looking forward to moving to Dunedin with his wife, Alison Douglass, and their three children.
Born in England, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1974, later beginning his Otago University medical studies in Dunedin.
He completed his MB ChB at the university's Christchurch campus, graduating in 1985 and working initially as a general practitioner before training in public health medicine.
He gained a master of public health degree through Otago's Wellington campus, and a PhD in aspects of primary health care delivery.
A Harkness Fellowship in Health Policy took him to Johns Hopkins University in the United States (2002-03).
Prof Crampton will succeed Prof Roberton when he retires on February 1 next year.
