Professor Felicity Goodyear-Smith Inaugural Lecture
On 23rd September my wife Felicity delivered her Inaugural Lecture at Auckland University’s Tamaki Campus. This is now available on video.
In parts one and two she talks about how her career has developed and the projects she is currently working on, which will mostly be of interest to those of you who have met her, or have a specific interest in primary healthcare research.
MENZ readers with limited time or attention spans should skip directly to part three, where she talks about her troubled relationship with DSAC – Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care.
Part One
I understand you are proud of your wife but I’m trying to see how this relates to Masculinist Evolution New Zealand ‘a clearer understanding of men’s experience’?
Am I missing something here?
Comment by Mike — Sat 20th November 2010 @ 5:26 pm
If you watch part 3 as I suggested, and follow the link to the DSAC archive page, all will be revealed.
False accusations and sometimes false convictions of sexual crimes is very much on-topic for this site.
Comment by JohnPotter — Sat 20th November 2010 @ 9:27 pm
I didn’t hear her mention false accusations or convictions and only a brief mention of DSAC. May have to watch part 3 again…. feeling as though there must be something I missed there?!?! Though I could sense her emotion in talking about DSAC and the toll it’s taken working for the defense. She speaks very well and is clearly feels very supported by yourself John.
Comment by Mike — Sun 21st November 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Ok thanks John. I didn’t hear her mention false accusations or convictions though. I was under the impression from previous comments by her in the media when COSA ended that she didn’t think it was as much of an issue as in the early 90’s with the dodgy therapy practices that happened then. I may need to listen to that last part again because all I heard was a very disheartened woman who has been worn down but who clearly appreciates your support.
Comment by Mike — Sun 21st November 2010 @ 3:52 pm
A paper based on this lecture was published online 1st December 2010 by the UK journal Family Practice:
Practising alchemy: the transmutation of evidence into best health care
Abstract:
Alchemy was the synthesis or transmutation of all elements in perfect balance to obtain the philosopher’s stone, the key to health. Just as alchemists sought this, so health practitioners always seek the best possible practice for optimal health outcomes for our patients. Best practice requires full knowledge – a little information can be dangerous. We need to serve our apprenticeship before we master our profession.
Our profession is about improving health care. While the journey may start at medical school, the learning never ceases. It is not only about practising medicine, it is about the development of the practitioner. Professional practice requires systematic thinking combined with capacity to deal morally and creatively in areas of complexity and uncertainty appropriate to a specific context.
It requires exemplary communication skills to interact with patients to facilitate collaborative decision making resulting in best practice. The synthesis of scientific and contextual evidence is a concept which applies to all disciplines where theoretical knowledge needs to be transferred to action to inform best practice. Decisions need to be made which take into account a complex array of factors, such as social and legal issues and resource constraints.
Therefore, journey towards best practice involves transmutation of these three elements: scientific knowledge, the context in which it is applied and phronesis, the practical wisdom of the practitioner. All science has its limitations and we can never know all possible contextual information. Hence, like the philosopher’s stone, best practice is a goal to which we aspire but never quite attain.
Comment by JohnPotter — Fri 24th December 2010 @ 7:55 am