A luminary in her field

Dr Melissa McLeod (MBChB, MPH, PhD, FNZCPHM) | Associate Professor, public health physician and Kaupapa Māori epidemiologist at Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare | Eru Pōmare Māori Health Research Centre, Te Tari Hauora Tūmatanui | Department of Public Health, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago

Ngai Tahu

Melissa’s passion for public health and epidemiology began in her childhood, “I knew that whānau was everything. Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.” She stands out as a luminary in her field; a highly regarded educator and one of a very limited pool who exemplify te ao Māori in epidemiology.

Melissa clearly embodies kaupapa Māori approaches to education and has used this positioning to inform her pedagogical practice. As espoused by her colleagues, “Melissa has a unique talent for inspiring her students to think critically, fostering in-depth understandings of Māori health and equity that acknowledge powerful historic and contemporary structural forces.”

She is a trailblazer for improved Māori health outcomes and appears to be having a strong influence on how health students and professionals engage with and understand te ao Māori. She is an educator who exemplifies a preparedness to address challenges as opportunities.

Her evidence based approach, coupled with humour and a genuine connection with students, enables her to make transformative differences, as shared by a student, “Mel is an extraordinary teacher who builds connection with her class in a very short course and creates a safe environment to ask questions and explore the topics and concepts presented”

Ahorangi Tūhono Melissa McLeod (Ngāi Tahu)
Tākuta hauora tūmatanui, Kaimātai tahumaero Kaupapa Māori (MBChB, MPH, PhD, FNZCPHM)
Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare | Eru Pōmare Māori Health Research
Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago 

He mātanga ingoa-nui i waenga i ōna hoa 

I tīmata mai te kaingākau o Melissa ki te hauora tūmatanui me te mātai tahumaero i tōna tamarikitanga, “I mōhio rā ahau ko te whānau te tīmatanga me te mutunga. Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.” He mātanga ingoa-nui i roto i ōna hoa; he kaiwhakaako e hau nei te rongo ki ngā tōpito katoa, ā, koia tētahi o ngā tāngata ruarua e whakakanohi nei i te ao Māori i roto i ngā mahi mātai tahumaero.

Hei whakatinanatanga ngā mahi a Melissa mō ngā ara kaupapa Māori mō te whai i te mātauranga, ā, kua whakamahia e ia tēnei tū hei ārahi i āna mahi whakaako. E ai ki ngā kōrero a ōna hoa, “He maha ngā pūmanawa o Melissa ki te whakahihiri i ana ākonga, kia mōhio ki te whakaaro, kia kaha ki te  whakakoi i tā rātou whakaaro arohaehae, te poipoi i te māramatanga hōhonu ki te hauora, me te tautika Māori, i takea mai i ngā ia o ngā whakatupuranga ka taha ake nei, o nāianei hoki.”

He kaihautū ia mō ngā mahi whakapiki putanga hauora Māori, ā, te āhua nei he kaha He kaihautū ia mō ngā mahi whakapiki putanga hauora Māori, ā, te āhua nei he kaha tāna arataki i ngā whakaaro o ngā ākonga hauora me ngā mātanga mō tō rātou anga atu, noho mārama hoki, ki te ao Māori. He kaiako ia e whakaaahua nei i te kaha ki te whakatika i ngā uauatanga, kia hurihia kētia hei tomokanga i te mānuka.

Nā ngā ara i whāia e ia, i takea mai i ngā taunakitanga whai mana, me tana mōhio ki te whakakata i te tangata, me tana hononga motuhenga ki ngā ākonga i āhei ai ia ki te whakauru panonitanga kawe kē i te ihu o te waka. E ai ki tētahi ākonga, “He kaiako whakamīharo a Mel, he kaha rawa ia ki te hanga hononga ki tana akomanga i tētahi akoranga poto noa, ā, ka whakatūturutia e ia he wāhi haumaru mō te patapatai, mō te tūhura hoki i ngā kaupapa me ngā ariā e whakaaturia ana”.

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Read Melissa's full Teaching and Learning profile | English

Read Melissa's full Teaching and Learning profile | Te reo Māori