University of Otago's Prof Barry Taylor, a distinguished child health researcher, has been appointed dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine. Photo / Craig Baxter
University of Otago's Prof Barry Taylor, a distinguished child health researcher, has been appointed dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine. Photo / Craig Baxter
The man chosen as dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine says he will be leaving the job he loves so he can help others fulfil their potential.
The University of Otago's Prof Barry Taylor, a distinguished child health researcher, was announced as the school's new dean yesterday. At presenthead of paediatrics and child health, Prof Taylor will take over from the retiring dean, Dr John Adams, in January.
Until late last year, Prof Taylor was head of the department of women's and children's health and he is widely known for research into children's health, notably in the area of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids), childhood obesity and childhood disease.
Prof Taylor said he loved his present job, but felt the time was right to begin focusing on helping others at the school.
"My job as an academic pediatrician looking after children, doing research focused on children, has been my love and still will be my love," he said.
He would have been "very happy" to continue in the role and only applied for the job as dean because some of his colleagues he would have liked to see in the position did not apply.
He believed he would be up to the task.
"I am pleased that there is some confidence that I can do it. It is quite a daunting task, especially in today's environment when the practice and delivery of high-quality healthcare is under so much pressure," he said.