Rosamund Vallings is a

medical doctor A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis ...

, known as one of the leading authorities on

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling Chronic condition, chronic illness. People with ME/CFS experience profound fatigue that does not go away with rest, as well as sleep issues and problems with memory ...

(ME/CFS) in New Zealand.

Career

Vallings has run a medical practice in Howick,

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, since 1966. With most patients having ME/CFS and related conditions, the practice started specialising in the illness, and Vallings became known as an expert. Vallings was involved with managing and diagnosing patients who had been referred by

general practitioner A general practitioner (GP) is a doctor who is a Consultant (medicine), consultant in general practice. GPs have distinct expertise and experience in providing whole person medical care, whilst managing the complexity, uncertainty and risk ass ...

s and specialists from around New Zealand, but retired sometime before 2022. She runs seminars for both patients and practitioners, and has produced an educational booklet and a number of information sheets to help with the understanding and management of the complex symptoms of ME/CFS. Other doctors at her practice continue to treat the condition. In 2011, Vallings was one of the authors of the case definition for ME/CFS, entitled "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria". Vallings has served the ME/CFS and medical communities voluntarily in a number of roles. These have included: assistant medical director of the Auckland Family Planning Association; medical adviser to the Breast Cancer Support Service; board member of the Macleans College; member of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME, formerly IACFS); editorial board member of the ''International Journal of CFS''; president of the New Zealand Society of Hypnosis; and as past president and ongoing () medical advisor to the Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES).

Awards

* 2008: Membership 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 CFS/ME in the 2008 New Year's Honours * 2016: Nelson Gantz Clinicians Award, received at the IACFS Conference held in

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, United States, on 30 October 2016

Publications

Books

* 2012
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
* 2015
Managing ME/CFS: A Guide for Young People
* 2017
The Pocket Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME: Key Facts and Tips for Improved Health

Articles

* August 2011
Myalgic encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria
* Sept 2011
AACFS 7th International Conference
* December 2011
Hypnosis in the Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* December 2011
Report on the Second World Congress on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Disorders
* April 2017
Cytokine Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Trial
* June 2017
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vallings, Rosamund 1938 births Living people Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand medical researchers 21st-century New Zealand medical doctors Place of birth missing (living people) 20th-century New Zealand medical doctors Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome 21st-century New Zealand women medical doctors 20th-century New Zealand women medical doctors