Ruth Lilian Spearing is a New Zealand

haematologist Hematology ( spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves treating diseases that affect the production ...

, and researches blood cancer. In 2023 Spearing 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 haematology.

Career

Spearing attended the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

. She has worked as a consultant haematologist at

Christchurch Hospital Christchurch Hospital is the largest tertiary hospital in the South Island of New Zealand. The public hospital is in the centre of Christchurch city, on the edge of Hagley Park, and serves the wider Canterbury region. The Canterbury District ...

since 1989, and is the clinical director of haematology at

Canterbury District Health Board The Canterbury District Health Board (Canterbury DHB or CDHB; ) was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury region of New Zealand, north of the Rangitata River. It was responsibl ...

. From 2003 until 2017 Spearing served as Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’ Medical Staff Association. Spearing was also Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service. Spearing was also a board member of the

New Zealand Medical Association The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) was an association representing some doctors and medical students in New Zealand. It was officially founded after a meeting in April 1886 at Dunedin Hospital. From 1896 to 1967, the NZMA was considered ...

, and a trustee of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates New Zealand. Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. These trials have investigated treatments for a range of blood cancers including

myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, a ...

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. In CLL, the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. In patients with CLL, B cell lymphocytes can begin to ...

, acute lymphocytic and

myeloid leukaemia Myeloid leukemia is a type of leukemia affecting myeloid tissue. Types include: * Acute myeloid leukemia: A cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of myeloblasts that build up in the bone marrow and blood and ...

, and have resulted in increased survival rates from 13% for acute myeloid leukaemia in the 1980s to 65 per cent. In 2008, Spearing established the Ruth Spearing Cancer Research Trust, to support haematology research in the South Island. In 2024, Spearing led calls for

Pharmac The Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Māori: ''Te Pātaka Whaioranga''), better known as Pharmac, is a New Zealand Crown entity that decides, on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, which medicines and pharmaceutical products are sub ...

chief executive Sarah Fitt to step down after an Official Information Act request revealed internal communications showing disdain for patients and their advocates. Spearing has been critical of Pharmac's approach to funding new drugs, especially drugs for blood cancers, pointing out that New Zealand funds far fewer blood cancer drugs than other countries.

Honours and awards

In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours, Spearing 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 on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

for services to haematology. Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG, the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.

Selected works

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References

External links

*
Wellbeing & Women in Medicine Panel
' - New Zealand Medical Students' Association 2017, panel including Jane Ruck, Alistair Papali'i-Curtin, Jessica Papali'i-Curtin, Ruth Spearing, Miriam Martin, chaired by Elizabeth Berryman, via YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:Spearing, Ruth New Zealand scientists New Zealand women scientists University of Otago alumni Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Hematologists New Zealand haematologists New Zealand women medical doctors New Zealand medical researchers