Rate My Professor Erin Henare

Dr Erin Henare is a Senior Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago's Centre for Rural Health, situated within the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Division. She holds the position of Regional Co-ordinator for Wairarapa in the Rural Medical Immersion Programme (RMIP), a one-year academic programme designed for fifth-year medical students. The RMIP delivers the clinical knowledge and skills of the ALM5 curriculum through experiential learning, immersing small groups of students in rural communities. Participants follow patients across general practice and rural hospital settings, guided by experienced general practitioners, rural hospital generalists, visiting specialists, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Under Henare's coordination, students undertake placements at general practices in Masterton and Featherston, emphasizing hands-on patient care, small-group learning, and self-directed study to cultivate expertise in rural healthcare delivery. Since its inception in 2007, the programme has demonstrated academic success and contributed to increasing the number of graduates pursuing rural generalist careers.

Henare obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) from the University of Otago in 2011 and became a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) in 2024. She is vocationally registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as a general practitioner. Her clinical practice spans Masterton Medical, Masterton Medical Youth Health Clinic, and Te Rangimarie Marae Health Clinic, with a special interest in youth health. Henare began her general practice training as a registrar at Masterton Medical and elected to continue practicing there following completion. In her university role, she supports the Centre for Rural Health's commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes for rural and remote New Zealand communities through excellence in teaching and community-engaged education. Her contributions bridge clinical practice and medical training, fostering the next generation of rural healthcare professionals.