Ruth Spearing
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.
Career
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]
Honours and awards
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]
Selected works
- Mats Brune; Sylvie Castaigne; John Catalano; et al. (23 March 2006). "Improved leukemia-free survival after postconsolidation immunotherapy with histamine dihydrochloride and interleukin-2 in acute myeloid leukemia: results of a randomized phase 3 trial". Blood. 108 (1): 88–96. doi:10.1182/BLOOD-2005-10-4073. ISSN 0006-4971. PMID 16556892. Wikidata Q28303488.
- J. T. Reilly; J. A. Snowden; R. L. Spearing; P. M. Fitzgerald; N. Jones; A. Watmore; A. Potter (1 July 1997). "Cytogenetic abnormalities and their prognostic significance in idiopathic myelofibrosis: a study of 106 cases". British Journal of Haematology. 98 (1): 96–102. doi:10.1046/J.1365-2141.1997.1722990.X. ISSN 0007-1048. PMID 9233570. Wikidata Q50945096.
- Smith SR; Cheesbrough J; Spearing R; Davies JM (1 August 1989). "Randomized prospective study comparing vancomycin with teicoplanin in the treatment of infections associated with Hickman catheters". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 33 (8): 1193–1197. doi:10.1128/AAC.33.8.1193. ISSN 0066-4804. PMC 172623. PMID 2529814. Wikidata Q35341106.
- JA Snowden; GR Hill; P Hunt; S Carnoutsos; RL Spearing; E Espiner; DNJ Hart (28 July 2000). "Assessment of cardiotoxicity during haemopoietic stem cell transplantation with plasma brain natriuretic peptide". Bone Marrow Transplantation. 26 (3): 309–313. doi:10.1038/SJ.BMT.1702507. ISSN 0268-3369. PMID 10967571. Wikidata Q57252641.
- Logan C Walker; Jane Stevens; Hamish Campbell; et al. (1 June 2002). "A novel inherited mutation of the transcription factor RUNX1 causes thrombocytopenia and may predispose to acute myeloid leukaemia". British Journal of Haematology. 117 (4): 878–881. doi:10.1046/J.1365-2141.2002.03512.X. ISSN 0007-1048. PMID 12060124. Wikidata Q33342795.
- Yago Nieto; Nigel Patton; Timothy Hawkins; et al. (1 February 2006). "Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after nonmyeloablative matched-sibling donor allogeneic stem-cell transplantations conditioned with fludarabine and low-dose total body irradiation". Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 12 (2): 217–225. doi:10.1016/J.BBMT.2005.10.012. ISSN 1083-8791. PMID 16443519. Wikidata Q46916859.
References
- ^ Friends, Alumni & (13 June 2023). "Eighteen Otago academics and alumni receive King's Birthday Honours". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The King's Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 - Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ NZ, Myeloma. "Warmest congratulations to Dr Ruth Spearing CNZM | Multiple Myeloma". Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Dr Ruth Spearing – New CLL Advocates Trustee – CLL Advocates NZ". Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Quill, Annemarie (8 October 2023). "Calls to sack Pharmac boss after 'sick, sneering' remarks". Radio New Zealand.
- ^ "Pharmac funds two new drugs for breast and blood cancer patients". RNZ. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Spearing, Ruth (23 February 2024). "A cancer doctor's view of why reform of Pharmac is vital". The Press. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b "ALLG Life Member Dr Ruth Spearing awarded with King's Honour NZ". The Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
External links
- Wellbeing & Women in Medicine Panel - New Zealand Medical Students' Association 2017, panel including Jane Ruck, Alistair Papali'i-Curtin, Jessica Papali'i-Curtin, Ruth Spearing, Miriam Martin, chaired by Elizabeth Berryman, via YouTube