Dianne Rosemary Webster is a New Zealand consultant paediatrician. She directed the New Zealand national newborn metabolic screening programme for more than twenty-five years. In 2007, Webster was appointed a Companion of the

Queen's Service Order The King's Service Order () established by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, is used to recognise "valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the ...

for services to public health, in particular paediatrics. In 2020, she was appointed a Companion of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for th ...

for services to health, particularly paediatrics.

Academic career

Webster graduated from the

University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...

with a degree in chemistry in 1972, and then completed a

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

in biochemistry, titled ''Interrelations between purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man'', at the Guys Hospital Medical School,

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...

in 1981. Webster continued her doctoral studies on the purine/pyrimidine metabolism and examined the enzyme deficiency disease

orotic aciduria Orotic aciduria (AKA hereditary orotic aciduria) is a disease caused by an enzyme deficiency, resulting in a decreased ability to synthesize pyrimidines. It was the first described enzyme deficiency of the ''de novo'' pyrimidine synthesis pathway. ...

and as a research assistant and postdoctoral researcher. In 1991 Webster became involved in the neonatal screening programme when she was appointed as director of the National Testing Centre at the Auckland District Health Board. She was director for more than twenty-five years. Webster also lectured in the University of Auckland School of Medicine. Webster oversaw the policy discussions and other changes required to add severe combined immune deficiency to the screening programme. Other changes during her leadership included the introduction of a text message alert system for midwives, and improvements to speed and equity of screening.

Honours and awards

In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours Webster was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to public health, in particular paediatrics. In the

2020 New Year Honours The 2020 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

, Webster was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health, particularly paediatrics. In 2008 Webster was awarded the International Society for Neonatal Screening's Robert Guthrie Award. She was elected an emeritus member of the

Human Genetics Society of Australasia The Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) is a membership organization for individuals in the field of human genetics who primarily practise in the Oceania region. Members typically hold both a qualification in human genetics and work in ...

Selected works

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Dianne New Zealand academics New Zealand women academics Academic staff of the University of Auckland University of Auckland alumni Alumni of King's College London Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Companions of the Queen's Service Order Year of birth missing (living people) Living people