Award-winning doctor and writer, Emma Espiner, has just released her new debut memoir There’s a Cure for This and we had the opportunity to do a small Q&A! In this Q&A, we will delve into Emma's motivations for writing the book, the challenges she's faced in her career and the key messages she hopes readers will take away from her work.

We are also giving you the chance to WIN a signed copy of her new book! We have hidden a word in italics somewhere in this post! If you would like to WIN the signed copy of this new book, head on over to our facebook page here and comment with another word that relates to our hidden word, and you'll go in the draw to WIN! Happy reading!

What inspired you to write There’s a Cure for This?

Training to be a doctor was such a transformative time for me, and my family. I was worried that the work would become routine really fast and I’d forget how it felt to be doing this scary, fulfilling, difficult, rewarding job if I didn’t write it all down.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
The logistics of parenting are wildly incompatible with this job, it’s a constant battle to make sure my daughter gets enough of my time.

What advice would you give to someone looking at a career in healthcare?
We need you yesterday, crack on with it!

What changes would you love to see be made within NZ’s healthcare system?
This is an entire book in itself. Top of my list would be prioritisation of evidence-based interventions for equity so that all New Zealanders can have the benefit of the world class healthcare that only some currently experience. I’d like to see a significant increase in the Māori and Pasifika workforce across medicine and surgery, nursing and all the allied health professions to that our people can start to see themselves reflected in the people caring for them.

What do you want readers to take away from There’s a Cure for This?
I want people to tell me their stories in response. I love that sharing this memoir is a prompt for people to talk to me about their related experiences, it’s a shortcut to whakawhanaunga­tanga.