As a Clinical Equity Lead, Clinical Haematologist, cancer researcher and current PhD student with the University of Auckland, Dr Myra Ruka (Raukawa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kuri) has shown leadership in advancing Māori Health Equity and Kaupapa Māori led practices in tertiary healthcare services and cancer research.

Through her roles as co-chair of the Te Whatu Ora Waikato Clinical Equity Leadership, Waikato Clinical Procedures Committee and member of the Board of Clinical Governance Myra has provided strategic direction and led local and regional service planning efforts, resulting in significant equity gain. She co-led the design and implementation of a Kaupapa Māori service at Te Whatu Ora Waikato working collaboratively with Māori leaders, kaimānaki (patient navigators), patients, whānau (family) and the organisation, to address waitlist inequities in planned care services.

She serves as a board member of Hei Ahuru Mowai (Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa) and is the Clinical Equity Lead at Te Aho o Te Kahu (The Cancer Agency).

Myra’s leadership is also evident in her current PhD research project, co-designing and implementing a Māori led Cancer service in Te Whatu Ora Waikato. Her commitment to advancing equity and culturally safe practices in cancer research is further demonstrated through collaboration with Cancer Trials New Zealand and Hei Ahuru Mowai and her role as equity research advisor for CAR-T cell therapy research at the Malaghan Institute, Wellington.