About
General Practitioners Aotearoa

Dr Buzz Burrell – MRCPI FRNZCGP FDRHMNZ FFPMANZCA

Chair

Buzz completed general physician training in the United Kingdom before coming to New Zealand as a respiratory research fellow and lecturer for the University of Otago.

The opportunity of rural hospital medicine and primary care was too irresistible, as was the South Island’s West Coast, occasionally the Chatham Islands, and then remote rural hospital and general practice in Western Australia followed.

Unexpected achievements include Lecturer of the Year in Dunedin 1993, and runner-up New Zealander of the Year in 1997.

In 2012, Buzz established a semi-rural general practice in Renwick, near Blenheim, and was the doctor for the chronic pain service in Nelson.

He is currently a pain specialist in Auckland, and regional coordinator and senior lecturer for the University of Otago Rural Medical Immersion Programme.

He is a very slow ocean swimmer and a Harley rider – (hopefully not at the same time).

After the liquidation of the NZMA, the serious need for an advocacy group for doctors working in General Practice was created. With a fantastic and dedicated team, General Practitioners Aotearoa has been established.

Dr Jocelyn Wood – FRNZCGP

Deputy Chair

Jocelyn is a GP partner at Nelson East Family Medical Centre in Nelson, and the clinical director of Community Mental Health Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough. She is also a Primex senior examiner and GPEP1 teacher.

She has previous experience as a member of the NZMA Board the GP Council, as well as a member of the Clinical Governance Committee for the Nelson Bays PHO.

Dr Anna Chodyra – CCFP FCFP

Board Member

Anna graduated from the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. After obtaining her medical degree, she moved to Canada. She graduated from the Family Medicine Program at the University of Calgary and practiced as a family physician in Canada for nearly 16 years. In that time she also worked as clinical faculty, mentor, and teacher, and was was involved in community-based organisations advocating for patients and physicians. 

Anna has called Aotearoa her home since October 2022. She enjoys working in rural and suburban general practices providing full spectrum care in the Bay of Plenty area. Activism is in her blood, and since learning about newly-established GPA, she joined the group of passionate, like-minded colleagues hoping to advocate for general practice in Aotearoa. 

Dr Marcia Walker – FRNZCGP

Secretary

Marcia is a fellow of the GP College and current sessional GP in Auckland, and previous practice owner. Marcia has held multiple positions within GP leadership organisations including previous executive member of NZRDA, past board member of the New Zealand Medical Association and current board member of the Auckland Faculty for the RNZCGP.

Larissa Logan – CA

Treasurer

Larissa holds the Treasurer position as a non-GP member of the board. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands. She holds a Certificate of Public Practice and is also an elected Councillor for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Co-Chair of the Women in Restructuring and Insolvency Group of New Zealand, and a member of the Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association of New Zealand (RITANZ).