Dr Susan Parry receives an ONZM

Dr Parry is the Clinical Lead of the National Bowel Screening Programme and an Associate Professor in Auckland University and has been instrumental in furthering the profession throughout her career spanning several countries.

Dr Parry was the on the Executive in 2002 to 2008 and held the role of Secretary-Treasurer in 2008. After a short hiatus Dr Parry returned to the Executive, becoming the first female President of NZSG.

During her 2-year hiatus from the Executive Susan was elected to the Council of InSiGHT and appointed to the Bowel Cancer Screening Advisory Group in 2009. Susan is still active in both these organisations and is the Chair of the International Society for Gastro-intestinal Hereditary Tumours (InSiGHT).

Dr Parry also supported education of advanced gastroenterology trainees as a member of the NZ RACP Gastroenterology Specialist Training Committee from 2009 to 2015.

Dr Parry's research and involvement in colorectal cancer field include:

• Principal Investigator Australasian Colorectal cancer Family Study - NIH funded Colon- Cancer Family Registry (Colon – CFR). 1997

• Co- Investigator Genetics of Serrated Neoplasia Study 2000-2016

• Coinvestigator HRC 3-year project grant Colorectal Cancer Control in New Zealand 2007

• National Screening Unit Working Group on Population Screening for CRC 2005

• Member World Endoscopy Organisation Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee 2004

• Member NZ Bowel Cancer Taskforce 2009

• Coinvestigator HRC 3-year project grant Colorectal Cancer Control in New Zealand 2007

• National Screening Unit Working Group on Population Screening for CRC 2005.

All this and more while raising three children with her husband Professor Bryan Parry, ONZM. All the family, including 5 grandkids, have been Susan's biggest supporters.

Dr Parry noted

In a career with many highlights, stand-outs include the privilege of having leadership roles – including at the gastroenterology department at Counties Manukau and being involved in the college gastroenterology training scheme; the establishment of, and her ongoing involvement in, the New Zealand Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Service; being a past chair and life member of the International Society of Hereditary Gastrointestinal Tumours; and being the first female to be elected President of the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology.

and she says there is still more to do!

My driving passion is to get equitable participation in the bowel screening programme, and to extend the age range of the programme so it is accessible to a broader range of people. Because it’s about saving lives and we are definitely doing that!

Congratulations Dr Parry on your ONZM

and a life full of achievements.