Manawataki Fatu Fatu for CMH Research Week

Dr Karen Brewer

Whakatoohea/Ngaiterangi

Research title: Manawataki: Fatu Fatu for ACCESS (Māori and Pacific hearts in unison for Achieving Cardiovascular Care in Equity StudieS)

Karen is a speech-language therapist and kaupapa Māori researcher. She is leading the qualitative aspects of the Manawataki Fatu Fatu research programme. Karen’s main interest is in stroke and aphasia but she is quickly learning about the heart so she can keep up in team discussions and understand what the research participants are talking about.

Name: Julie Winter-Smith

Iwi or ethnic group: Tongan (`Alaki Fonua/Pelehake, Tongatapu)

Role title: PhD candidate

Short biography for introduction:  Julie Winter-Smith is a doctoral candidate based in the Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Auckland. She is part of the Manawataki Fatu Fatu for Achieving Cardiovascular Care for Equity StudieS (ACCESS) research programme, which is focused on achieving equity in cardiovascular disease for Māori and Pacific people. Her doctoral research is using Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure to investigate patterns of cardiovascular disease and its management among different Pacific ethnic groups, including how this differs for Pacific peoples born outside of New Zealand. Julie’s research is generously funded through the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Dr Sandra Hanchard

Research Fellow

Research Title: Equity-focused discharge planning for heart failure

Sandra is a Pacific researcher of Tongan heritage who is researching what equity looks like for heart health services. Her current focus is discharge planning for heart failure from secondary care to long-term management in the community. She is passionate about redesigning health systems that empower Māori and Pacific patients with long-term conditions to live well and to be partners in their own care. Sandra has a research background in information and communication systems and has recently returned to Aotearoa after a decade living in South-East Asia.

Pablo A. Callejas

Clinical Support Officer with the Clinical Audit and Research Team, Hato Hone (St John)

Iwi or ethnic group: Latin American

Research Title: Ethnicity findings from the 2020/21 Out-of-Hospital ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Registry

Pablo has over 10 years’ experience working as a Paramedic. Pablo started with the New York City EMS and has held a variety of Clinical positions. Currently, Pablo holds a Clinical Support position within Hato Hone (St John) as one of the team leading the focused audit portfolio. In his role as a focused auditor, he has authored the inaugural annual STEMI report.