Category: Education

Source: University of Otago

For more than 20 years Otago physiotherapy students have been volunteering weekends to take strangers to the emergency department.
It’s all part of the deal for School of Physiotherapy students who volunteer thousands of hours as medics for local sports teams – managing acute injuries, doing pre-game strapping, and even accompany players to the hospital when needed.
Though facilitated by the School, the service is not part of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree.
School of Physiotherapy lecturer Professor Gisela Sole says about 40 students volunteer about 4.5 hours a week for 15 weeks equating to about 3,200 hours a year helping the local sports community. 

In 2023 though, that number has more than doubled. Eighty-four students have volunteered – 64 doing it in Dunedin and 17 in other places.
“It is fantastic to see our students providing such an altruistic service to kiwis across the nation. It is clear they have a genuine passion for physiotherapy practice and a desire to give back to their local community, helping to make sports safe and accessible to all,” says Professor Sole.
Rebecca Hourigan volunteered in Dunedin and Sophie Wilson in Palmerston North.
A fourth-year physiotherapy student, Rebecca says she grew increasingly interested in rehabilitation and physical education while studying sport and exercise nutrition for a Bachelor of Applied Science.
Physiotherapy student Rebecca Hourigan says the experience she gained volunteering as a sports medic with the Kaikorai Rugby Club was “priceless”.
This led to her second degree in physiotherapy, which she feels is an underrated profession.
“It’s not just about helping people when they’ve hurt themselves, it about their holistic wellbeing, taking preventative measures to ensure they don’t get hurt, and encouraging them to live their best lives – volunteering as a sports medic encapsulates this in a very practical sense.”
Volunteering at the Kaikorai Rugby Club had been a “priceless” experience that allowed her to interact with people she might not have, learn about the management of sports clubs, get practical experience, and support people in need.”
She strongly encourages other physiotherapy students to volunteer, even if it’s just for a season, because the hands-on experience is so helpful in increasing confidence.
Sophie says volunteering as a sports medic benefitted both her professional and personal skills.
Volunteering as a sports medic while on placement in Palmerston North has increased Sophie Wilson’s personal and professional confidence.
From Dunedin, she is doing her fourth-year placement in Palmerston North, where she volunteers with the Fielding Rugby Club.
“It’s been hands-on experience, where I’ve had to learn about injuries, make quick assessments on how to manage them, and share with players how they can prevent long-term complications.”
Personally, she had enjoyed giving back, growing her contact networks and more quickly become a part of the “Palmy” community.
She encourages other physiotherapy students to volunteer as medics regardless of whether they want to be a sports physiotherapist eventually or not, because it helps improve communication and teamwork skills as well as shoring up what has been learned in class.
Sophie’s clinical supervisor helped her get involved with the rugby club, but students can also reach out to clubs themselves if they would like to volunteer.
“Most medic opportunities come from reaching out to people and I emailed several clubs but ended up taking up a volunteer position that my supervisor found as that was the right fit for me,” Sophie says.
“Also, I’ve found that opportunities tend to stem from taking up other opportunities; so be proactive and search out experiences because you’ll likely find yourself in exciting places you had never previously considered.”
Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Schutte.

Source: University of Otago

After a global search, Professor Jemma Geoghegan has been appointed the Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis at the University of Otago.
Professor Jemma Geoghegan.
A Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Professor Geoghegan is the third holder of the position, following Professor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu who was appointed in 2019, and the inaugural recipient Professor Andrew Mercer, who held the position from 2005 until his retirement.
Her research focuses on how and why viruses jump hosts and emerge in new populations, and how they evolve while they spread. She has helped pioneer bioinformatic methods for the discovery of novel viruses which are beginning to revolutionise the study of virology.
“As part of the Leading Thinkers Initiative, this Chair is a huge privilege and I am incredibly grateful to Professor Webster and his family for making this possible,” Professor Geoghegan says.
“This position and the associated funding will mean that my current research will be expanded beyond what I thought would be possible. My hope is that by collaborating broadly and building up a network of people working in this area, we can really expand our understanding of this field of virology.”
Originally from Scotland, Professor Geoghegan completed her PhD with Professor Hamish Spencer in the Department of Zoology in 2012, before moving to the United States to undertake postdoctoral research on HIV at New York University. Her career then took her to University of Sydney and Macquarie University, before she returned to Otago with her family in early 2020.
COVID-19 hit the headlines about the same time as Professor Geoghegan arrived at Otago and she immediately found herself not just at the forefront of research into the virus, but often in front of media cameras and microphones, both nationally and internationally.
“Being on the front-line of the country’s response to a viral pandemic was definitely something I didn’t think I’d ever experience,” she says.
During this time, she co-led with her colleagues at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research the establishment of genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2.
The resulting genomic approach was described as “world leading” in a report commissioned by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and as a result viral genomics became critical to New Zealand’s successful public health response.
She continues to build on this work and was recently awarded a Health Research Council Project grant to lead genomic sequencing of other viral infections that have been, and will be re-introduced into the community following the return of international travel.
“Through this initiative, I intend to build Aotearoa’s inaugural framework for genomic pathogen surveillance,” Professor Geoghegan says.
A focus for Professor Geoghegan has always been to inspire and be a role model for women in science.
“An important priority for me is to train the next generation of scientists in this field, to build capability and ensure we are much better prepared to tackle the challenges that infectious diseases will bring,” she says.
“This role demonstrates leadership in research and I hope it will encourage a change in culture where women are seen to be leaders in this space too.”
Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson says Professor Geoghegan has an exceptional track record as an internationally recognised, respected and high impact scientist.
“As a globally respected scientist, Jemma has made significant contributions in her field which have not only garnered acclaim from peers but has also led to groundbreaking advancements.
“Jemma’s expertise and accomplishments makes her the ideal person for this prestigious position, and I have no doubt she will seize every opportunity to make even greater strides in her research and inspire others to do the same.”
The Webster Chair in Viral Pathogenesis
The University of Otago established the ‘Leading Thinkers Initiative’ in 2004 as part of the government’s Partnerships for Excellence Framework. The Initiative invested in people who were knowledge leaders working in areas considered vital to New Zealand’s well-being. Academics have been recruited from New Zealand and around the world to fill these prestigious and important positions. The projects cover the breadth of academic disciplines at Otago and all meet the objectives of the University’s Strategic Direction.
The Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis was endowed by Robert and Marjorie Webster in 2005 in conjunction with the Leading Thinkers campaign.
Professor Webster is a noted virologist and international expert in influenza. He was the first to acknowledge a link between human and avian flu. His team isolated and identified the avian-adapted strain of H5N1, the causative agent of H5N1 flu commonly known as “avian influenza” or “bird flu”. He is an expert in the structure and function of influenza proteins and in the development of new vaccines and anti-virals. The reservoir of influenza viruses in wild birds, and their role in the evolution of new pandemic strains for humans and lower animals, continue to be a focus of his work.
Robert Webster studied at the University of Otago in Microbiology where he completed a BSc and MSc. During his distinguished career, he has held many research posts, starting out as a virologist with the New Zealand Department of Agriculture.
He continues his work in infectious diseases at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the USA. He has published more than 600 original articles and reviews on influenza viruses.
For more information please contact:
Professor Jemma GeogheganDepartment of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of OtagoEmail jemma.geoghegan@otago.ac.nz
Lea JonesCommunications Adviser, Media EngagementUniversity of OtagoMob +64 21 279 4969Email lea.jones@otago.ac.nz

Source: University of Otago

Otago University Students’ Association Postgraduate Representative Keegan Wells has had a busy first half of the year.
Getting more people along to student-organised events and throwing her support behind the Study Wage For All campaign are highlights so far for the Otago University Students’ Association 2023 postgraduate representative.
Keegan Wells is just over halfway through her year-long appointment.
While growing engagement with Otago Postgraduate Association’s (OPA) events, of which she is president, and supporting OUSA president Quinten Jane’s campaign for a Study Wage For All have been highlights, the University’s proposed redundancies having a negative impact on the postgraduate student community are an obvious low, she says.
Postgraduate students are feeling the effects of the proposed redundancies more than undergraduate students, Wells says, because they work quite a bit more closely with staff, such as their supervisors.
“We have a lot of people who might want to get into the field of academia, and see the current climate, and be deterred by it which can be really difficult and really challenging as well.
“It’s personal for postgraduate students.”
Wells campaigned on bringing back the postgraduate student allowance, which was scrapped for postgraduate students at tertiary institutions across Aotearoa New Zealand in 2013.
This year she has contacted both Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Finance Minister Grant Robertson, asking them to reinstall it.
“I’ve basically received the same note back from both of them, as even though it was both their policy [to bring it back], COVID happened, and obviously everybody is needing more money.”
Not one for giving up, she says she has since shifted her focus towards pushing for the Study Wage For All.
It would be an “all encompassing” student allowance that all students could apply for, including postgraduate, she says.
“Quintin has been making a lot of headway on that. There is a petition out there similar to how we ran the Winter Energy Payment petition.”
Wells and other members of OUSA executive have been busy approaching local MPs trying to get the Study Wage For All off the ground.
OPA has had really good engagement this year “which is phenomenal”, she says.
A postgraduate happy hour will be starting up soon at Auahi Ora in the Union Building, OPA recently held a professional headshot phot session and there is a ball coming up, too.
Before the year is over, Wells hopes to maintain the support system and community OPA has created, and finish off her own thesis, as well as continuing to navigate “anything that pops up”.
-Kōrero by Koren Allpress, Internal Communications Adviser 

Source: University of Otago

A pattern of symptoms in veterans has emerged in a University of Otago study that researchers say should be taken seriously by health professionals.
The study, led by Professor David McBride and published in this week’s New Zealand Medical Journal, investigated the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and multiple symptom illness (MSI) – more than one medically unexplained symptom not fitting within a specific medical diagnosis.
MSI was first described in veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and occurs in both military personnel and civilians.
“The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of reporting of MSI among New Zealand veterans and investigate the relationship with PTSD as a risk factor,” he says.
The symptoms fall into three groups labelled arthro-neuro-muscular (joint/nerve/muscle pains) cognitive (sleeping problems, dreams, loss of concentration) and psycho/physiological (sore throat/nausea/glands).
The study looked at a sample of 1,672 New Zealand veterans – 59 per cent of whom had served in a war zone and 29 per cent who had at least some signs of PTSD. On average those with signs of PTSD reported 20 symptoms, while those without reported having nine symptoms. The number of symptoms also tended to increase with age.
“In summary, multiple symptom illness, rather than being an inexplicable pattern of health effects, remains stable across time and is linked to both chronic illness and poorer quality of life. Because of the pattern of symptom reporting and the veteran group reporting it, there is a plausible association between MSI and PTSD.
“This research tends to confirm that PTSD is associated with MSI, as did the finding that those veterans with PTSD had more severe symptoms,” he says.
If such a pattern of symptoms is found in a veteran, it should be further investigated.
“In Australian veterans, those with MSI developed more health conditions over time, the symptoms became more severe, and they had higher health service use, suggesting that it is important to catch these conditions early, and treat the underlying condition,” Professor McBride says.
“Health practitioners might find that a patient presenting with multiple symptoms including muscle and joint aches and pains, cognitive problems, disorders or sleep and avoidance is worthy of further investigation, including whether or not they have military service and enquiry about PTSD symptoms.”
For more information, please contact:
Professor David McBrideDepartment of Preventive and Social MedicineUniversity of OtagoEmail david.mcbride@otago.ac.nz
Lea JonesCommunications Adviser, Media EngagementUniversity of OtagoMob +64 21 279 4969Email lea.jones@otago.ac.nz