He was in Southland to meet with staff and find out their aspirations for what Otago Medical School, particularly the Invercargill campus, will look like in the next 40 years.
“I want to hear what their vision is to grow the health component of Otago University over the next three decades,” he says.
Professor Subramaniam, who trained in both Australia and New Zealand, worked at Auckland City and Waikato Hospitals before spending 15 years in the United States training in nuclear medicine. He took up the position of Dean of Otago Medical School in January this year.
A self-confessed supporter of the regions, he is keen to foster joint appointments in Invercargill between the University and Southland Hospital, with an emphasis on niche, highly-focused research and clinical work.
After visiting Southland Hospital’s Radiology Department, Professor Subramaniam has also offered to use his clinical skills as a nuclear medicine physician at Southland Hospital to treat Southland patients. He has already begun doing clinical work in Dunedin and is keen to do the same in Invercargill.
He intends to be back, both as Dean of the Medical School and a doctor caring for patients. “No doubt about that,” he says.
Check out these other Better Health South Stories:
Better Health South - Board Update September 2020
Team effort creates therapeutic garden
Diabetic Foot Clinic rolled out in Southland
New Dunedin Hospital project flying the flag for suicide prevention
Talented hands and big hearts
Community gets behind surveillance testing
