Ruth Spearing

Ruth Lilian Spearing is a New Zealand haematologist, and researches blood cancer. In 2023 Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology.

Career

Spearing attended the University of Otago. She has worked as a consultant haematologist at Christchurch Hospital since 1989, and is the clinical director of haematology at Canterbury District Health Board.

Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. Spearing has been critical of Pharmac's approach to funding new drugs, especially drugs for blood cancers, pointing out that New Zealand funds far fewer blood cancer drugs than other countries.

Honours and awards In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours, Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology. Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG, the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.

Selected works