NAME: Dr Leona Wilson, ONZM
ANZCA PRESIDENT 2008 – 2010
QUALIFICATIONS:
BMedSc (neurophysiology) (Otago) 1974
MB ChB (Otago) 1975
MPH (Otago) 2008
FFARCS, 1980 (FFARACS, 1983)
FANZCA, 1992
FAICD, 2008
Born in Timaru, New Zealand, Leona Wilson studied medicine at the University of Otago, graduating BMedSc (neurophysiology) in 1974, and MB ChB in 1975. A year later, she moved to Europe and undertook anaesthesia training and experience in London and Amsterdam. In 1981 she returned to New Zealand and completed her Fellowship. When ANZCA was founded in 1992, Leona was a Foundation Fellow. She was elected to Council in 2000. In 2008, she was elected ANZCA President, making her the first woman, and first New Zealander, to hold the position. Leona is still working in clinical anaesthesia, and involved with ANZCA as Executive Director of Professional Affairs.
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Born in Timaru, New Zealand, Leona completed her secondary education at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch and studied medicine at the University of Otago’s medical school in Dunedin. She graduated BMedSc (neurophysiology) in 1974 and MB ChB in 1975. After a house surgeon year in Christchurch, Leona moved to Europe, where she undertook anaesthesia training and experience in London and Amsterdam, before returning to New Zealand in 1981 to complete her fellowship. She was admitted to fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons, in 1980, and the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), in 1983. Since 1983, Leona has practised in Wellington. She is also a long-standing instructor at the National Simulation Centre in Wellington. She was the first female head of anaesthesia services at Wellington Hospital (1988-93). In 2008, Leona was awarded a Master in Public Health from the University of Otago and was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Leona’s involvement with governance began in 1986 when she was elected to the New Zealand Committee of the Faculty of Anaesthetists. From 1992- 94, she was the first woman to chair that committee as it became the New Zealand National Committee for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, which was established in 1992. From 1993 to 2005, she was a member of ANZCA’s Final Examination Panel.
Leona was elected to the ANZCA Council in 2000 and during her time as a councillor served as Quality Assurance/Maintenance of Professional Standards Program Officer and, variously, chair of the Courses Sub-Committee, Certificates Committee, Education and Training Committee, Hospital Accreditation Committee, Mortality Committee and International Medical Graduates Committee.
She also provided leadership on the Australian national stage during the introduction of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
In 2008, Leona was elected president of ANZCA. She was the first woman, and first New Zealander, to hold this position. She remained on council until 2012, having served a full twelve years.
Leona’s achievements in New Zealand were recognised when she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2011 and awarded life membership of the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists the same year. These achievements included helping advance the New Zealand Crimes Amendment Act of 1997, which replaced a civil negligence standard for the criminal prosecution of negligence with a requirement more aligned with international “gross negligence” standards. This was seen as a crucial quality and safety issue which would encourage medical practitioners to report, discuss and learn from mistakes, enabling them to be handled through professional channels.
Leona was also a driving force behind the reintroduction of anaesthetic morbidity and mortality reporting in New Zealand, is chair of the Perioperative Mortality Review Committee established in 2011, contributes to the Competence Assessment Team for the Medical Council of New Zealand and is a member of Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Although her involvement as an elected official with the ANZCA Council concluded in 2012, her comprehensive skills and experience have not been lost to the College as she is now employed as Executive Director of Professional Affairs, with particular responsibility for international medical graduates.
OTHER AWARDS & HONOURS
2011 Officer of the Order of New Zealand
2012 Robert Orton Medal
REFERENCES
The information in these biographies has been researched via the ANZCA Archives with the assistance of the individual Fellows.
IMAGE REFERENCES
- Leona Wilson (photograph), c2016