Inaugural Lecture of Professor Jonathan Koea

UoA Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Ki te whakataurite ki ngā ao e rua? Balancing two worlds?

University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Promotion to professor at the University of Auckland is a mark of distinction, recognising professional and academic eminence at an international level.Professor Jonathan Koea (Ngāti mutunga, Ngāti tama) grew up in Taranaki and graduated from Medical School at the University of Auckland. After completing General Surgery training in Aotearoa New Zealand, Jonathan undertook post fellowship training in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York City. He is President Elect of the Australian, Aotearoa New Zealand Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association, an examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the subspeciality editor for HPB Surgery for the ANZ Journal of Surgery,  a Trustee of Hei Āhuru Mōwai, and works in an advisory role for Te Ahu o Te Kahu. Jonathan maintains a research program in the fields of HPB Surgery, gastrointestinal cancer and Indigenous health and has a focus on increasing numbers of Māori entering surgical careers.Professor Koea's inaugural lecture will focus on the theme of balancing worlds – Māori and non-Māori, surgery and clinical research – a lifetime's work. Te Ao Māori and surgery are not commonly associated by either Māori or non-Māori and the challenges in reconciling Western and Māori world views currently confront Aotearoa New Zealand like never before. Can worlds be balanced? Perhaps they can with time, effort, the contributions of eight unique mentors over 40 years and growth through eight specific projects, extending from the laboratory via the clinic and operating room to Cabinet.Drinks and canapés will be served in the atrium at the conclusion of the lecture.