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