David Skegg
{{Short description|New Zealand epidemiologist (b. 1947)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Sir David Skegg
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|KNZM|OBE|FRSNZ}}
| image = David Skegg.jpg
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| caption = Skegg in 2010
| birth_name = David Christopher Graham Skegg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|12|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
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| fields = Epidemiology
| workplaces = University of Otago
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| education = University of Otago
University of Oxford
| alma_mater = Balliol College
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| doctoral_students = Lianne Parkin
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Sir David Christopher Graham Skegg {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|KNZM|OBE|FRSNZ}} (born 16 December 1947) is a New Zealand epidemiologist and university administrator. He is an emeritus professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011 and president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from 2012 to 2015.{{cite web |url= https://www.otago.ac.nz/dsm/people/expertise/profile/index.html?id=632 |title=Professor David Skegg |publisher=University of Otago |access-date=20 August 2020}} His primary research interest is cancer epidemiology.{{cite web |url= http://www.kcoca.com/courier.cfm?Page=CourierArticle&CourierArticleID=272 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040422021210/http://www.kcoca.com/courier.cfm?Page=CourierArticle&CourierArticleID=272 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2004 |access-date=26 August 2010 |title=Old Collegian becomes Otago University Chancellor |year=2003 |publisher=King's College }}{{cite web|url= http://critic.co.nz/articles/335 |publisher=Critic Magazine |year=2010 |last=Smirk |first=Susan |title=Skegg |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724192239/http://critic.co.nz/articles/335 |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}{{cite web|url= http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/otagomagazine/otago004395.pdf|title=To Lead|last=Rutherford|first=Jill|year=2004|work=Otago Magazine|publisher=University of Otago}}
Biography
Skegg was born in Auckland and attended King's College, Auckland. He entered the medical course at the University of Otago, travelling on exchange to Harvard University. He later received a (postgraduate) Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford, joining Balliol College and working with noted epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll.{{cite web |url= http://www.adelaide.edu.au/acu2006/program/speakers.html |publisher=Association of Commonwealth Universities |title=Conference of Executive Heads: Invited Speakers |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090312023621/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/acu2006/program/speakers.html |archive-date=12 March 2009 }}
Returning to Otago, Skegg took up the departmental chair in Preventive and Social Medicine in 1980. He was the vice-chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2011. He was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand from July 2012{{cite web|url= http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2012/03/12/new-president/|title=Royal Society of New Zealand announces new President|publisher=Royal Society of New Zealand|date=12 March 2012|access-date=16 April 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130208162022/http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2012/03/12/new-president/ |archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=dead}} to 2015.
Skegg has acted as a consultant to the World Health Organization and to the New Zealand Government. He chaired the Health Research Council, the Science Board, and the Public Health Commission.{{Cite book|title=The health of the people|last=Skegg|first=David|publisher=Bridget Williams Books|year=2019|isbn=9781988545585|location=Wellington, New Zealand|pages=141|oclc=1089437275}} In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to medicine,{{London Gazette |issue=52383 |date=31 December 1990 |page=30 |supp=2}} and in the 2009 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to medicine.{{cite web | url= https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2009 | title=New Year honours list 2009|date=31 December 2008 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=17 December 2017}} Later in 2009, he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand Government.{{cite web | url= https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/special-honours-list-1-august-2009 | title=Special honours list 1 August 2009|date=1 August 2008 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=17 December 2017}} He has contributed to the study of cervical, breast and prostate cancer, as well as contraceptives and reproductive health.{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10550120 |date=31 December 2008|title=Honours List: Cancer researcher lifted lid on healthcare faults|last=Johnston|first=Martin|work=The New Zealand Herald}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Skegg was an adviser to the International Science Council{{Cite journal |last=Skegg |first=David |last2=Gluckman |first2=Peter |last3=Boulton |first3=Geoffrey |last4=Hackmann |first4=Heide |last5=Karim |first5=Salim S. Abdool |last6=Piot |first6=Peter |last7=Woopen |first7=Christiane |date=2021-02-27 |title=Future scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00424-4/fulltext |journal=The Lancet |language=English |volume=397 |issue=10276 |pages=777–778 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00424-4 |issn=0140-6736 |pmid=33607000|pmc=7906624 }}{{Cite report |url=https://council.science/publications/covid19-unprecedented-and-unfinished |title=Unprecedented & Unfinished: COVID-19 and Implications for National and Global Policy |date=2022-05-17 |publisher=International Science Council |doi=10.24948/2022.03}} and the Epidemic Response Committee of the New Zealand Parliament.{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Jamie |date=2022-11-11 |title=Why Sir David Skegg is 'cautiously optimistic' worst of Covid-19 is over |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/why-sir-david-skegg-is-cautiously-optimistic-worst-of-covid-19-is-over/OBW2UXG75BQ66D3XDVNLNY7ACI/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} He also chaired the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group, which advised the New Zealand Government on its response to the pandemic. In that capacity, he has advocated an elimination approach to containing the pandemic until an effective vaccination programme could be rolled out.{{cite news |last1=Broughton |first1=Cate |title=Don't give up on eliminating – not eradicating – Covid-19, Kiwi scientists say |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/125788567/dont-give-up-on-eliminating--not-eradicating--covid19-kiwi-scientists-say |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=Stuff |date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721041836/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/125788567/dont-give-up-on-eliminating--not-eradicating--covid19-kiwi-scientists-say |archive-date=21 July 2021|url-status=live}} Under his leadership, the Committee advocated a phased approach towards reopening the country's borders, easing managed isolation requirements for certain travellers, and introducing pre-departure and rapid testing for travellers exiting and entering the country.{{cite news |last1=Corlett |first1=Eva |title=New Zealand should take phased approach to border reopening, experts advise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/11/new-zealand-should-take-phased-approach-to-border-reopening-experts-advise |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811040915/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/11/new-zealand-should-take-phased-approach-to-border-reopening-experts-advise |archive-date=11 August 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Malpass |first1=Luke |last2=Cooke |first2=Henry |title=Covid-19 NZ: Government advisory group says borders can open in 2022 without forgoing elimination strategy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126031427/covid19-nz-government-advisory-group-says-borders-can-open-in-2022-without-forgoing-elimination-strategy |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=Stuff |date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810224346/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126031427/covid19-nz-government-advisory-group-says-borders-can-open-in-2022-without-forgoing-elimination-strategy |archive-date=10 August 2021|url-status=live}}
Notable doctoral students of Skegg's include Lianne Parkin.{{Cite thesis |title=Risk factors for venous thromboembolism |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10523/8329 |last=Parkin |first=Lianne |publisher=OUR Archive, University of Otago |date=2008 |type=PhD thesis}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Hancock, Farah (2019). [https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/04/16/531451/nzs-deadly-public-health-battle "NZ's deadly public health battle".] Newsroom, 16 April 2019.
- [https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018685317/sir-david-skegg-national-leadership-on-public-health-needed "Sir David Skegg: national leadership on public health needed."] RNZ, 6 March 2019.
- {{cite book |author= Lambert, Max |title= Who's Who in New Zealand |year=1991|edition= 12th |publisher=Reed, Auckland |page= 583 |isbn= 0-7900-01306 }}
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{{s-npo|pro}}
{{s-bef | before = Garth Carnaby}}
{{s-ttl | title = President of the Royal Society of New Zealand | years=2012–2015}}
{{s-aft | after = Richard Bedford}}
{{end}}
{{Coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skegg, David}}
Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Category:Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Category:New Zealand epidemiologists
Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:New Zealand public health doctors
Category:New Zealand Rhodes Scholars
Category:Presidents of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Category:University of Otago alumni