Curtis Walker

L to R Joan Simeon, Andrew Connolly and Curtis Walker.

"A hongi between the departing Medical Council chair Andrew Connolly and new chair Curtis Walker"

Curtis James Walker, MD, MBChB Chair of Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), Deputy Chair Te ORA. Curtis Walker often focuses on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Systemic Racism Task Force

Federation of State Medical Boards Logo

Curtis Walker is listed as a member of the Federation of State Medical Boards's ad hoc Task Force on Health Equity and Medical Regulation, which was launched in March, 2021 "to assist state medical and osteopathic boards in identifying opportunities for understanding and addressing systemic racism, implicit bias, and health inequity in medical regulation and patient care."

The "Final Report of the FSMB Workgroup On Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medical Regulation and Patient Care" was submitted in March, 2023.

Bio

Excerpt from the Medical Council of New Zealand website:

"Dr Walker was elected to Council in 2015. He was Chair from February 2019 through to February 2024.

Formerly a veterinarian, Dr Walker retrained in human medicine and qualified from Auckland in 2007. He started work as a House Officer at Waikato hospital and commenced internal medicine training there before moving to Palmerston North and Wellington to complete his Fellowship in nephrology (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians) in 2015.

During his time as a resident doctor, he was President of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) for five years, and currently serves on the board of the Maori Medical Practitioners Association (Te ORA). These roles reflect the strong commitment that Dr Walker has to improving health outcomes for Māori and to supporting doctors during the long and challenging years spent in specialist training.

Dr Walker was appointed to the Board of Te Whatu Ora in June 2022.

He commenced work as a renal and general physician in 2015 at MidCentral DHB and loves living in Palmerston North with his wife and two young children.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at #RACMA2023

#RACMA2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Panel

A conference held by the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, using hashtag #RACMA2023 "puts the spotlight on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with an incredible panel who challenged RACMA and its Members to use their influence to take forward the change that is already happening, get comfortable with being uncomfortable and learn how to be proactive. It is not about adjusting diverse people to fit the paradigm, but it is about adjusting the paradigm to fit diverse people."

The Panel consisted of Dr Curtis Walker (Chair of Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), Deputy Chair Te ORA) Dr Sue Calvert (Chief Executive at Medical Sciences Secretariat), Ms Lorraine Hetaraka (Chief Nursing Officer), Mr Manase Lua (Kanorau, Pasifika, Diversity Manager, Pacific Equity Lead), Mx Moira Clunie (Project Lead Te Ngakau), Mr Abe Ropitini (Executive Director, Population Health) & Dr Helen Nott (Non-Executive Director).

Maori face 'Systemic Racism'

"Doctor NOS", a "non-profit podcast hosted by Dr. Maple Goh" on Facebook dated May 19, 2022

Curtis Walker was featured on "Doctor NOS", a "non-profit podcast hosted by Dr. Maple Goh". This clip was on Facebook dated May 19, 2022. In the clip, Curtis Walker laments "systemic racism" and "invisible barriors" that are supposedly faced by individuals of Maori descent attempting to go to medical school.