Congratulations to Dr Lance O’Sullivan who received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland in recognition of his leadership and innovation.
Lance is known for his vigorous Māori health advocacy. He is driven by a passionate belief in equal access to healthcare and the need to overcome the impact on children living in poverty in New Zealand.
Lance graduated in 2002 with a medical degree from the University of Auckland and now specialises as a GP, focused on improving Māori health.
He has led the way in delivering MedTech solutions to help combat poor access to healthcare for often geographically isolated, low-income families and communities.
Lance and his wife Tracy established a healthcare company, Navilluso Medical, to set up the MOKO Foundation in 2013, and the MOKO programme.
The MOKO programme is a school-based service focused on preventing rheumatic fever in children. It began in Far North primary school health clinics to take throat swabs of children presenting with sore throats – an early indicator of rheumatic fever.
It is Lance’s vision to provide iMOKO services to 300,000 children across New Zealand in the next three years.