Mr Andrew Connolly awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit: Member (MNZM)

Mr Andrew Connolly, chair of the Council was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit: Member (MNZM) in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to health.

The citation accompanying the award notes:

"Associate Professor Andrew Connolly was appointed as Middlemore Hospital’s first specialist colorectal surgeon in 1997 and was sole colorectal surgeon there until 2002.

Associate Professor Connolly became Head of Department of General and Vascular Surgery in 2003 and remains in this position. Under his leadership the Department has been regarded as one of the best in New Zealand and has consistently met or exceeded Ministry of Health targets for productivity. He has grown the Department from eight surgeons to 19 and has mentored many of the surgeons into national and international leadership positions.

He was appointed to the Medical Council of New Zealand in 2009 and was elected Chairman consecutively from 2014 to 2018. He has led major changes and improvements in Resident doctor education, recertification for doctors, and has been a member of the Ministerial Task Group on Clinical Leadership.

He has served on various national committees, including chairing the Ministerial Review of the Impact of The Elective Waiting Times Policy. He is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and has published more than 35 scientific papers.

Outside of medicine he is a New Zealand military historian focusing on First World War medical history. Associate Professor Connolly has delivered ANZAC Day talks at Middlemore Hospital and further afield."

Council would like to congratulate Mr Connolly for this award which is recognition of his leadership, service and commitment within the health sector.