Research & education

Waikato DHB includes a tertiary teaching hospital and our clinical practice is to provide each patient with the best standard of healthcare. This tradition of patient-centred care is well supported through research and education.

In addition, and in response to the special characteristics of its population, the Waikato DHB has the goal of becoming an internationally recognised centre for research into rural health and indigenous Maori, which will lead to improved services for these groups. The organisation has strong links to the Auckland University Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences through the Waikato Clinical School and is a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Rural Health.

Waikato DHB's clinical professor of nursing heads the Nursing Research and Development Unit, established in collaboration with Victoria University's Graduate School of Nursing and Midwifery in Wellington. The unit plays an important role in leading nursing research, practice development and the implementation of evidence based nursing practice.

Waikato DHB actively supports staff involved in research activities and has an excellent library and academic and clinical skills training centre, the Waikato Clinical School. Our on-campus educational and training facilities are described by health professionals as "second-to-none".

Dedicated clinical education funds ensure health professionals receive financial backing to attend national and international conferences or to pursue various courses of postgraduate education and training.