John Stoke Award

Excellence in Occupational Medicine Practice

About John Stoke

John Stoke was a pioneer in Occupational Medicine in New Zealand.

Stoke was born on 14 August 1928 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England. In 1946, Stoke commenced medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. Shortly after qualifying, he became a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and served from 1953 to 1957. In 1958, he and his family moved to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where he worked as a general practitioner in rural areas and became involved in leprosy work.

After a period as a general practitioner in Salisbury (Harare), Stoke became a Senior Medical Officer in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, and it was during this time that he developed his interest in Occupational and Preventive Medicine. In 1975, he returned to England on a sabbatical. He did post-graduate work in Occupational Medicine before moving to New Zealand in 1976 to take up the position of Senior Medical Officer with the Ministry of Transport before moving into the Ministry of Health, with responsibility for Occupational Health.

In 1986, Stoke was appointed Director of Public Health in New Zealand, but complications from cataract surgery forced him to retire in 1987. After some months of convalescence, his vision improved sufficiently for him to work again, and he was appointed co-ordinator of the Occupational Health Task Force of the National Health Institute until he retired again in 1989.

He touched the lives of many people in occupational and public health in New Zealand, and in 2001, ANZSOM NZ established the John Stoke Medal in his honour.

The medal is awarded to recognise exceptional contributions to occupational medicine.

Nominating an Individual for the Award

If ANZSOM (NZ) members wish to nominate an individual for the John Stoke medal, they should email the Secretary at [email protected] before 1 August of the year.

Nominations must include a proposer and seconder, both Full Members of ANZSOM NZ and include a citation. Key points to consider when nominating an individual and including in the citation are the following:

The award is for individuals who have made a significant and/or contribution to occupational medicine in New Zealand
This would generally require them to have improved occupational medicine nationally and/or enhance its standing in New Zealand.
Nominations focussed solely on long service, carrying out work for which the nominee was paid, or their personality, are unlikely to be successful.
A citation should tell the story of what the nominee has accomplished, giving clear, objective examples of what and how they have achieved that is worthy of the award. For example, you might include:
- How has their contribution achieved a lasting outcome?
- What quantifiable differences has their contribution made?
- How they have shown innovation and creativity
- Their level of voluntary unpaid contribution
- How have they earned the respect of their peers and/or become a role model in the field?
- Achievement(s) which required vision, moral courage, or determined hard work.

The ANZSOM NZ Committee will consider nominations, and if an award is made, the recipient will be announced at the Annual General Meeting.

Our previous John Stoke Medal winners

2025 – nil
2024 – nil
2022 – Geraint Emrys
2021 – Alastair Wilson
2020 – David McBride
2019 – Mary Obele
2018 – David Scott
2017 – John Heydon
2016 – John Guthrie
2015 – Peter Dodwell
2014 – nil
2013 – Simon Ryder-Lewis
2012 – Rob Griffiths
2011 – Mike Anderson
2010 – David Waite
2009 – nil
2008 – nil
2007 – John Kerr, QSM
2006 – Bill Glass
2005 – Edwin Whiteside
2004 – Evan Dryson
2003 – Ngaire Smidt
2002 – James Keir Howard
2001 – Chris Walls

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