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New Zealand epidemiologist (b. 1947) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir David Christopher Graham Skegg KNZM OBE FRSNZ (born 16 December 1947) is a New Zealand epidemiologist and university administrator. He is an emeritus professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011 and president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from 2012 to 2015.[1] His primary research interest is cancer epidemiology.[2][3][4]
Sir David Skegg | |
|---|---|
Professor Skegg in 2010 | |
| Born | David Christopher Graham Skegg 16 December 1947 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Education | University of Otago University of Oxford |
| Alma mater | Balliol College |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Epidemiology |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
| Doctoral students | Lianne Parkin |
Skegg was born in Auckland and attended King's College, Auckland. He entered the medical course at the University of Otago, travelling on exchange to Harvard University. He later received a (postgraduate) Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford, joining Balliol College and working with noted epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll.[2][5]
Returning to Otago, Skegg took up the departmental chair in Preventive and Social Medicine in 1980. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011. He was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from July 2012[6] to 2015.
Skegg has acted as a consultant to the World Health Organization and to the New Zealand Government. He chaired the Health Research Council, the Science Board, and the Public Health Commission.[7] In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to medicine,[8] and in the 2009 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to medicine.[9] Later in 2009, he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand Government.[10] He has contributed to the study of cervical, breast and prostate cancer, as well as contraceptives and reproductive health.[11]
Skegg is also the leader of the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, which has advised the New Zealand Government on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. In that capacity, he has advocated an eliminationist approach to containing the pandemic.[12] Under his leadership, the Committee advocated a phased approach towards reopening the country's borders, easing managed isolation requirements for certain travellers, and introducing pre-departure and rapid testing for travellers exiting and entering the country.[13][14]
Notable doctoral students of Skegg's include Lianne Parkin.[15]
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