Dr Ruth Spearing, of Christchurch, CNZM, for services to haematology
Dr Ruth Spearing was Consultant Haematologist at Christchurch Hospital from 1989 to 2020 and Clinical Director of the Department of Haematology with Canterbury District Health Board for six years. She was the New Zealand Principal Investigator for international collaborative trials into a wide range of blood cancers in partnership with the United Kingdom Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. The research resulted in a significant increase in survival rates and helped to establish pioneering treatments internationally. She has worked extensively with adolescents and young adults with cancer and was Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service. Dr Spearing was a member of the National Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Governance Group and Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’ Medical Staff Association.