SPEAKERS

Who's Going to be Speaking

We are proud of the excellence of the diverse and interesting guest speakers who address our monthly meetings.   Not only do they provide opportunity for learning and discussion on a wide range of topics, but they keep us up to date with what is happening in our ever-changing city and world.

Here are details of our speakers for the next couple of months:

Monday 14th April

Professor Justin Roake

"Of Mice and Men: 7 Lessons in Life as a Surgeon and Scientist"

Professor Emeritus Justin Roake retired recently after a decades long career as Professor of surgery at the University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine and specialist vascular and transplant surgeon at Christchurch Hospital.

A graduate in surgery from University of Otago, he was awarded a Nuffield Medical Fellowship and travelled to Oxford(UK) completing a DPhil in transplantation immunology in 1993. Justin went on to become a specialist vascular and transplant surgeon, and senior clinical lecturer in surgery at the University of Oxford.  Returning to Christchurch (NZ) in 1997  he rose to be academic Head of Department.  He establishied the department of vascular, endovascular and transplant surgery, and served as its clinical director for 10 years.

Monday 12th May

Nurina Maria Katta, PhD

“Food for Thought: Supporting Mental Health with Nutrition”

As part of her recently completed PhD in the field of Nutritional Psychology, Nurina investigated the impact of vitamin and mineral supplements on stress in students.  More recently her research has focussed on the effects of the same supplements in 5-10year old children who have a variety of neurodevelopmental issues.

In the past, Nurina worked with children and adults who have a variety of neurodevelopmental mental health issues, and assisted on a research project researching language development in children with developmental disabilities.