Dianne Rosemary WebsterCNZMQSO is a New Zealand consultant paediatrician. She directed the New Zealand national newborn metabolic screening programme for more than twenty-five years. In 2007,Webster was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to public health,in particular paediatrics. In 2020,she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health,particularly paediatrics.
Webster graduated from the University of Auckland with a degree in chemistry in 1972,and then completed a PhD in biochemistry,titled Interrelations between purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man,at the Guys Hospital Medical School,King's College London in 1981.[1][2] Webster continued her doctoral studies on the purine/pyrimidine metabolism and examined the enzyme deficiency disease orotic aciduria and as a research assistant and postdoctoral researcher.[2]
In 1991 Webster became involved in the neonatal screening programme when she was appointed as director of the National Testing Centre at the Auckland District Health Board.[2] She was director for more than twenty-five years.[3] Webster also lectured in the University of Auckland School of Medicine.[2] Webster oversaw the policy discussions and other changes required to add severe combined immune deficiency to the screening programme. Other changes during her leadership included the introduction of a text message alert system for midwives,and improvements to speed and equity of screening.[3]
Honours and awards
In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours Webster was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to public health,in particular paediatrics.[3] In the 2020 New Year Honours,Webster was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health,particularly paediatrics.[4]
In 2008 Webster was awarded the International Society for Neonatal Screening's Robert Guthrie Award.[2]
Songya Pang; Anastasia Clark; Eurico Camargo Neto; etal. (April 1993). "Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: Newborn screening and its relationship to the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder". Screening: journal of the International Society of Neonatal Screening. 2 (2–3): 105–139. doi:10.1016/0925-6164(93)90024-D. ISSN0925-6164. WikidataQ57632303.
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