Ruth Spearing | |
|---|---|
 Spearing in 2023 | |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Christchurch Hospital , Canterbury District Health Board |
Ruth Lilian Spearing CNZM is a New Zealand haematologist,and researches blood cancer. In 2023 Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology.
Spearing attended the University of Otago. [1] She has worked as a consultant haematologist at Christchurch Hospital since 1989,and is the clinical director of haematology at Canterbury District Health Board. [2] From 2003 until 2017 Spearing served as Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’Medical Staff Association. [2] Spearing was also Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service. [2] Spearing was also a board member of the New Zealand Medical Association,and a trustee of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates New Zealand. [3] [4]
Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. [2] These trials have investigated treatments for a range of blood cancers including myeloma,chronic lymphocytic leukaemia,acute lymphocytic and myeloid leukaemia,and have resulted in increased survival rates from 13% for acute myeloid leukaemia in the 1980s to 65 per cent. [2]
In 2008,Spearing established the Ruth Spearing Cancer Research Trust,to support haematology research in the South Island. [2]
In 2024,Spearing led calls for Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt to step down after an Official Information Act request revealed internal communications showing disdain for patients and their advocates. [5] Spearing has been critical of Pharmac's approach to funding new drugs,especially drugs for blood cancers,pointing out that New Zealand funds far fewer blood cancer drugs than other countries. [6] [7]
In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours,Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology. [2] [8] Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG,the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. [8]
