2025 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Neil Anderson, David Black, Benson Chen, Pat Clarkson, Tony Mark, Neil Pollock
EX OFFICIO
Judy Murphy, Peter Stone, Helen Taber
(Recent former members of the Executive)
President
Neil Anderson MB,ChB, FRACP
Neil is president of the Auckland Medical History Society and chairman of the Committee of Management of the Ernest and Marion Davis Library Trust. He is a neurologist at Auckland Hospital and the Chief Medical Adviser to the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.
Programme Coordinator from 2025
David Black MD
Benson Chen MBChB PhD FRACP
Benson is a neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist at Auckland City Hospital and senior research fellow at the University of Auckland. He has previously served as an executive officer for several community and voluntary organisations. Benson is interested in the evolution of neurological knowledge, particularly how historical accounts of neurological disorders compare with contemporary descriptions.
Pat Clarkson MBChB FRACP FCSANZ Dip Am Boards Pediatrics & Pediatric Cardiology
Pat is a retired paediatrician who specialized in cardiology and newborn medicine. She has digitised most of the Society’s collection of manuscripts of speakers’ presentations and historic and other material related to the Society.
Anthony (Tony) Mark MB ChB Auckland, FANZCA
Tony was an Anaesthetist at Middlemore Hospital for 40 years before retiring from public practice in 2021. He presently works in private practice in Auckland. His interests include Anaesthetic History especially collecting old Anaesthetic books and papers pertaining to the development of the specialty of Anaesthesia. Early in his career he spent time in London at the Westminster Hospital which laid seeds for this passion.
Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretary
Neil Pollock MBChB, MD, FACA
Neil was an anaesthetist at Palmerson North Hospital for 34 years before retiring. He developed a particular interest in malignant hyperthemia and obtained an MD in this topic in 2012. Neil has a longterm interest in medical history and has presented papers at several Australasian anaesthetic forums
Ex officio
Recent former members of Executive
Website
Judy Murphy RN, DipN (Lond), DipNsg Ed (Lond)
Judy was a charge nurse at Green Lane Hospital, then worked in the NHS for 10 years at Westminster Hospital then St Thomas Hospital. In NZ her interest & experience has been in health research project management at the University of Auckland (UoA). Judy is an honorary academic at the UoA, a volunteer guide at Auckland Museum and a co-author of two books on medical history. She was on the Executive Committee 2018-2024 initiating the Special Interest talks / EMDL tours and updating operating procedures and communication.
Peter Stone MB ChB DM (Bristol) FRCOG, FRANZCOG, CMFM DDU
Peter is Emeritus Professor of Maternal and Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland. Peter has been on the Executive Committee and involved in many aspects of the AMHS over a number of years. He was the AMHS Programme Coordinator until the end of 2024. In this key role he has been able to engage a wide range of excellent speakers who have contributed to the lecture programme. Peter was also the AMHS representative for the Faculty of Medicine. With Judy Murphy he initiated the set up the AMHS website.
Helen Taber DipMus
Helen has worked as medical secretary in cardiology in both the public and private sectors. She is also a professional musician and music teacher. Helen is a volunteer at the Auckland War Memorial Museum and at the Ernest and Marion Davis Library where she has a special interest in the collection of apothecary jars, donated by her family. Helen was on the Executive Committee 2019-2024. She organised the management and hosting of attendees at AMHS meetings and initiated the popular book sales and donations, generating income for the Society.
Acknowledgements
Immediate Past Treasurer
Peter Holst MBChB, FRACP
Peter resigned as Treasurer and as a member of the Executive Committee in June 2022. Peter has served as our Treasurer over many years. His wisdom, thoughfulnes and unfailing cheerfulness have been greatly appreciated by all members of the Society. His work as Treasurer has been a very important factor in the successful function of the AMHS. We wish Peter a happy retirement and look forward to seeing him at future meetings.
Neil Anderson, President 2022
John Webster
John was a member of the Society almost since it began. He served on the Executive for a number of years before retiring in 2017. John is a local Kinder historian and was president of the Auckland Founder's Society. He has given a number of presentations to AMHS on a wide range of topics, each of which reflected his eclectic interests. In 2019 he was awarded life membership of AMHS. His main responsibility in the recent past has been to welcome people as they arrive for AMHS meetings.
Juliet Hawkins
Juliet has been the Curator of the Ernest & Marion Davis Library for the past 23 years, retiring in September 2024. Juliet is credited with the curation of the fine collection of historic medical objects displayed at the EMDL. She has always been a great supporter of the AMHS.
Ernest & Marion Davis Library
Curator
Claire Freeman MA
Claire joined the Ernest & Marion Davis Library as Curator in 2024. She has over 25 years experience working with museum collections including at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford (UK), Auckland Museum, and 18 years as Collection Manager at the National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. She particularly enjoys the variety and challenges of working in small institutions.
Curator
Celia Walker
Librarian
Victoria Bell
Events Operations Assistant
Michael Boyle
