Dr Phil Shoemack is one of your Medical Officers of Health. Medical Officers of Health are public health physicians (doctors) who specialise in the health of groups or whole communities rather than working on individual healthcare.

The Medical Officers of Health are designated by the Director General of Health. The purpose of the Medical Officer of Health role is to improve, protect and promote the health of the population in their districts.

They regularly publish reports that provide information, comment and opinion on current public health topics and issues.

Dr Phil Shoemack
Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Head of Service and Medical Leader for Regional Community Services

Dr Phil Shoemack is a public health physician, Medical Officer of Health and Public Health Head of Service for Toi Te Ora Public Health, and also the Medical Leader for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board Regional Community Services.

He undertook all of his under-graduate and post-graduate medical training in New Zealand, and has been working in public health in the Bay of Plenty since 1986.

His interests include reducing inequalities, how to get the whole community more physically active and the prevention of health issues at a population level through healthy public policy.  “I’m passionate about helping to build environments which are supportive of good population health outcomes,” says Dr Shoemack.

Qualifications and professional memberships:

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, University of Otago
  • Diploma in Community Health, University of Otago
  • Diploma in Occupational Medicine, University of Auckland
  • Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine