The GP and the judge meet again

Twenty years ago Lance O'Sullivan stood before Judge Mick Brown to admit a charge of driving without a licence. (He was discharged without conviction). Last week Dr O'Sullivan and Judge Brown met again, this time as Sir Peter Blake Trust award recipients.

Judge Brown was awarded the Blake medal, while Dr O'Sullivan was one of six recipients of leadership awards.

The citation described Dr O'Sullivan (who on February 6 was named Maori of the Year) as a man considered by many to be one of the decade's most inspirational role models in medicine, healthcare, and for Maori. With a courageous vision to eradicate poverty-related illnesses, he had significantly changed the opportunities and improved access to basic healthcare in Northland, particularly for youth.

"As a general practitioner, first in Rotorua and then in Northland, Lance saw the harrowing impacts of poverty on the health and well-being of families and set on a tireless course to instigate change," it continued.

With a patient-centred philosophy, he was committed to the community having a say in how the clinic he and his wife Tracey opened at Kaitaia Hospital last year functioned; he was turning traditional medical models on their head, and making a real difference in the lives of people.

He had been instrumental in setting up Manawa Ora, Korokoro Ora - Healthy Heart, Healthy Throat (MOKO) programme, the first full-time school-based health clinic in Northland, which aimed to provide medical care for 2000 children at the 14 primary and intermediate schools within 25 kilometres of Kaitaia, while his realisation that wellness began in warm, safe homes rather than endlessly writing out prescriptions led to his Kainga Ora (Well home) programme, aimed at repairing run-down homes.

"With a door to door approach, Lance's unyielding compassion means that he and his supporters will not rest until every child in the community lives in a healthy environment," the citation added.

"As a role model for other doctors and the greater community, Lance has the ability to make others feel courageous and encourages innovative thinking and approaches to addressing complex problems. He has built partnerships across different agencies and with politicians in order to deliver new services and care system-wide, and has trained dozens of medical students to cement a new ethic of practice into future generations.

"Ensuring an ethic of 'walking the talk,' Lance is a regular competitor in triathlon and ironman events, and brings his community with him. He encouraged more than 200 people in Kaitaia to take up the Ironmaori challenge last year, which is helping to promote a culture of healthy living and exercise."

Dr O'Sullivan, who will play his part in inspiring a new generation at Kaitaia Intermediate School today as a member of the Sir Peter Blake Dream Team (Coming home with a message, page 3), is living testimony to the fact that humble beginnings need not be a barrier to achievement.

Born in Auckland, the son of a cleaner (mum) and a freezing worker, raised by his mother, he remembers being embarrassed by the homemade-bread sandwiches he took to school (all the other kids had Tip Top), while his mother worked multiple jobs to put him through school and university.

His message to his own children was not to take all that they had for granted.