We are delighted that Distinguished Professor David Simmons has accepted the role of Patron for Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa. The role is new, however the relationship between our organisation and Professor Simmons is not.
Professor Simmons has a long and respected history working as a diabetes specialist physician, researcher and advocate. As the original founder of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa back in the 1990’s with the support of Sir John Scott, Betty Hunapo, Christina Tapu and Dr David Scott, the connection with our organisation and its goals can’t get much deeper. In his years of work, first at Middlemore and later in the Waikato, Professor Simmons has put great energy into helping those most affected by diabetes. With his strong historic links into the Tāmaki Makaurau community he is currently working and consulting on locally relevant research, as well as providing academic supervision and support from across the Tasman. He visits Aotearoa New Zealand regularly to see his whanau here and for work.
Qualifications: MA MB BS FRACP FRCP MD(Cantab)
Skills: Diabetes and Diabetes in Pregnancy specialist, Clinical epidemiologist, Health Services Research including complex clinical trials Rural Health, Access to care
Professor Simmons is Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the Western Sydney University Macarthur Clinical School, Head of the Campbelltown Hospital Endocrinology Department, Director of the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Translation Unit (DOMTRU) and Co-Director of the DOM Clinical Academic Group of the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise. From 2007 to 2014, he was the lead diabetes consultant at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK, overseeing major changes in the local model of care. He is a visiting academic to the University of Orebro Sweden and Middlemore Hospital New Zealand.
There is more information on Professor Simmons activities here
