Doing the right thing was Maori doctor's chosen path

Doing the right thing was Maori doctor's chosen path

Dr Peter Jansen

Medical director, Boehringer Ingelheim (NZ) Ltd. Treasurer, Maori Medical Practitioners Association

No. of employees: 32

Time with company:2 years


What makes your day at work?

Seeing the results of clinical trials of a new medicine.

For example, we carried out part of a huge multinational trial last year for a drug that is injected into people when they have a heart attack - it breaks up the clot in their heart and gets the blood flowing again.

Results presented showed the drug worked, and when [it] comes to New Zealand it will result in lives being saved. I'm really excited about that - people will enjoy a longer life.

How did you get where you are today?

I have a background as a general practitioner and have worked both in South Auckland and the Coromandel.

My understanding and belief in quality assurance and improvement were key factors that led to my current position with Boehringer Ingelheim.

My wife was instrumental in encouraging me to apply for this job - she said: "Peter, you need a challenge - go and get that job!"

What was the most important lesson you learnt on your way up?

When I was going to medical school I thought "there must be a lot of Maori docs around" - even though there was only six in my class of 200 at Otago University.

But when I got out, I found there were hardly any - and in fact there are only 195 now.

Within the Maori community, Maori doctors are expected to stand up and be rangatira (leaders). We take on that role and welcome the responsibility.

With our feet in both the Maori and medical camps, we have a different view, for example, of the catchword "integrated care" which is the flavour of the month in healthcare right now.

Most Maori say to themselves "we didn't know health was dis-integrated." I think we have a lot to learn from each other about ways of viewing healthcare.

How have you dealt with any pitfalls you come across in your career?

I have found that all problems arising in life are resolved by doing what is right and not necessarily what is popular. Both my grandfathers were from very different backgrounds but both were intent on doing what was right - one from a strong belief in religion and the other, a very gentle Maori man, who always valued people. That common theme has stayed with me.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out on a business career?

Always plan to succeed. Any successful person will have short, medium and long-term goals.

After all, those who succeed without a plan have done it by chance. Or, as the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland said: "If you don't know where you are going, any path will do."

What's the biggest challenge for your organisation in the present economy?

People sometimes have a negative view of pharmaceutical companies, perhaps because they perceive we did not provide service in the past.

The current environment of direct consumer advertising that we are doing now, providing full disclosure to patients to allow them to make informed decisions, means we are really going the distance.

Boehringer Ingelheim is a family-owned German company - we don't have public stockholders - and there is a very strong ethic within the company of doing what is right - that's why I work here.

If there's one thing you could have done differently, what would it have been?

Nothing! I believe that every experience - both good and bad - that I have encountered throughout my life has helped to shape the person I am today.

What ambitions do you have?

To always be in a learning environment, and to become more fluent in Te Reo Maori.

How do you relax?

I have a little ritual on Saturday mornings whereby I walk the dog to get the newspaper and bread. I then listen to some blues music, drink a fresh cup of coffee and read the paper.

This ritual marks off, in my mind, the end of the week and the start of a new plan.

* Peter Jansen spoke with Dita De Boni