MBChB, Distinguished FRNZCGP
Dr Lily Fraser is a Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori graduate and now uses Te Reo Māori in her role as a GP. She is passionate about supporting whānau with lifestyle changes, particularly low-carbohydrate nutrition, to improve their health.
Lily graduated from Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, in 2004. From 2011, Lily worked as a GP and Clinical Director at Turuki Health Care in Mangere, Auckland. Lily supports others in the profession by taking on a mentor and teacher role with students and junior doctors coming through their GP training.
She has now moved home to Ōtepoti and works for Te Kāika as a GP and Clinical Director. Like Turuki Health Care, Te Kāika is a Māori Provider who offers affordable, wrap-around healthcare and social services to Māori, Pasifika and low-income communities throughout the Otago region.
Lily is passionate about Te Reo Māori and uses it daily in her mahi. She grew up on the marae surrounded by people who fought hard to save Te Reo Māori and culture. She believes it only takes one generation to lose Te Reo and three generations to regain it. It is active in the reo revitalisation strategy for her iwi Kāi Tahu- Kotahi Mano Kāika. Her daughter is now the second generation to speak Te Reo Māori and revive that for her whānau.
Growing up, Lily never considered being a doctor as a career. Her mother introduced her to an article in a Mana magazine about the MAPAS programme — the Māori and Pacific admissions scheme at Auckland University’s medical school. Lily is now actively supporting Māori and Pasifika students in medical school and loves working alongside whānau to support them in achieving their health goals.
From birth until death, being a GP is a joy and privilege.
Links:
Dr Lily Fraser | Clinical Director at Turuki Health Care
Dr Lily Fraser: We have to be able to do things differently
Straight Up with Dr. Lily Fraser - The Panel | Ministry of Health NZ
