| Dianne Webster | |
| Thesis1 Title: | Interrelations between purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man |
| Thesis1 Year: | 1981 |
Dianne Rosemary Webster is a New Zealand consultant paediatrician. She directed the New Zealand national newborn metabolic screening programme for more than twenty-five years. In 2007, Webster was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to public health, in particular paediatrics. In 2020, she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health, particularly paediatrics.
Webster graduated from the University of Auckland with a degree in chemistry in 1972, and then completed a PhD in biochemistry, titled Interrelations between purine and pyrimidine metabolism in man, at the Guys Hospital Medical School, King's College London in 1981.[1] [2] Webster continued her doctoral studies on the purine/pyrimidine metabolism and examined the enzyme deficiency disease orotic aciduria and as a research assistant and postdoctoral researcher.
In 1991 Webster became involved in the neonatal screening programme when she was appointed as director of the National Testing Centre at the Auckland District Health Board. She was director for more than twenty-five years. Webster also lectured in the University of Auckland School of Medicine. Webster oversaw the policy discussions and other changes required to add severe combined immune deficiency to the screening programme. Other changes during her leadership included the introduction of a text message alert system for midwives, and improvements to speed and equity of screening.
In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours Webster was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to public health, in particular paediatrics.[3] In the 2020 New Year Honours, Webster was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health, particularly paediatrics.[4]
In 2008 Webster was awarded the International Society for Neonatal Screening's Robert Guthrie Award.
She was elected an emeritus member of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia.[5]