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Our People

We have experienced staff working in a range of exciting public health roles including:

  • Health Improvement

  • Health Protection

  • Research and Evaluation

  • Policy and Strategy Development

  • Communications

  • Issue leads

  • Managers and Public Health Physicians


Medical Officers of Health

Medical Officers of Health strive to improve, protect and promote the health of the population. Their main areas of work include environmental health, communicable disease, health improvement and health development services planning.

Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service has three Medical Officers of Health who are trained as specialists in public health medicine.  Dr Phil Shoemack, Dr Jim Miller and Dr Neil de Wet all work as public health watchdogs and advocates.

Dr Phil Shoemack

Dr Jim Miller

Dr Neil de Wet

Medical Officers of Health gain information through their personal grapevine and hard data provided by Health Protection Officers. This includes notifiable disease rates, the presence of algal blooms, sewage spills and food complaints.

“The job becomes a bit easier as you meet more people and spend time working in the region,” says Dr Phil Shoemack, who has lived and worked in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts for more than 25 years.

Advocacy includes everything from working with people on a personal level through to prosecution and the application of legal powers. 

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Page updated 03 Feb 2012

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