New Zealand haematologist
Ruth Lilian Spearing 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. She has worked as a consultant haematologist at Christchurch Hospital since 1989, and is the clinical director of haematology at Canterbury District Health Board. From 2003 until 2017 Spearing served as Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’ Medical Staff Association. Spearing was also Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service. Spearing was also a board member of the New Zealand Medical Association, and a trustee of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates New Zealand.
Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. 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.
In 2008 Spearing established the Ruth Spearing Cancer Research Trust, to support haematology research in the South Island.
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. 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.
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. Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG, the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.
References.
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