Dr Samantha Murton
The University of Waikato has appointed Dr Samantha Murton MNZM as the Deputy Dean of the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine.
One of New Zealand’s most respected and well-known general practitioners, with longstanding leadership experience at The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Dr Murton brings more than 30 years of experience across clinical practice, education and health leadership.
She joins Professor Scott Wilkes, Dean of the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, as they lead the establishment of the medical school and shape a new approach to medical education in New Zealand.
Dr Murton joins Waikato from the University of Otago where she is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Primary Health Care. Alongside her academic work, she continues to practice as a senior GP at Capital Care Health Centre in Wellington.
Her passion for hands-on learning is reflected in her teaching of minor surgery, suturing and dermatology, as well as in the books she has authored and illustrated to support practical skills development.
Dr Murton says the opportunity to help establish a new medical school – one focused on strengthening the health workforce and improving access to care – was a major drawcard.
“I’ve spent my career working across clinical practice and medical education, so the opportunity to help build a new medical school from the ground up is incredibly exciting,” Dr Murton says.
I’m delighted to be part of a medical school that places primary care at its centre and encourages more graduates to pursue careers in regions where they are needed most.
Professor Jo Lane, Pro Vice-Chancellor Health at the University of Waikato, says Dr Murton’s combination of clinical expertise, educational leadership and commitment to primary care makes her an outstanding fit for the role.
"Dr Murton will play a key role in shaping the direction of New Zealand’s first graduate-entry medical school. She has built a career at the intersection of frontline medicine and teaching, and we look forward to seeing what she will do for our students,” Professor Lane says.
Dr Murton holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice from the University of Otago, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators (UK) and a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.
She has held several influential leadership roles in the health sector, notably serving for nine years in senior positions with The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners – first as its inaugural Medical Director for two years, followed by seven years as President and Chair. She is also a Distinguished Fellow for the College. In 2021 she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to medical education, particularly general practice.
Dr Murton is currently Chair of the Council of Medical Colleges, where she contributes to national and international health governance through roles with the Ministry of Health and the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA). She also serves on the boards of the Head and Neck Cancer Foundation and New Zealand Skin Cancer Doctors, and is Founder, Trustee and Acting Chair of Capital Care Trust.
The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, New Zealand’s first graduate-entry medical school, is set to open in 2028. The programme is designed to encourage more doctors to pursue careers in general practice and community-based healthcare, helping to build a workforce that better reflects the communities it serves, particularly across rural and regional New Zealand.
Last month, the University announced Professor Wilkes' appointment as the Dean, following his leadership in establishing a primary care-focused medical school at the University of Sunderland in the North East of England.
Dr Murton will begin her role on 1 July.
