His talk this week is part of Whanganui District Health Board's Porritt Lecture Series which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and is named after Sir Arthur Porritt.
Born in Whanganui 120 years ago, Sir Arthur, who won a Rhodes Scholarship to study medicine at Oxford University, went on to become surgeon to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.
Sir Arthur was president of both the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and returned to New Zealand in 1967 to become the country's 11th Governor-General, and the first born in New Zealand.
He also had an illustrious athletics career, winning a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 1924 Paris Olympics and captaining New Zealand's 1928 Olympics team.
In 1973 he was created a life peer, taking the title Baron Porritt of Wanganui and Hampstead.