Rate My Professor Karyn Maclennan

Dr Karyn Maclennan, Pūkenga Matua / Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Health (Dunedin) at the University of Otago, holds a BSc, an MSc with distinction, and a PhD, all from the University of Otago. Her research specializations centre on Māori health, emphasizing partnerships with community groups to address locally and nationally significant projects. She has a strong interest in amplifying rangatahi voices regarding vaping and other nicotine products, as well as engaging young people and whānau through interactive formats on medicines and health to promote informed decision-making and positive health outcomes.

In teaching, Dr Maclennan delivers courses such as PUBH741 Hauora Māori: Policy, Practice and Research, PUBH204 Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities, and ALM5: Youth Community Health - Alcohol and other drugs. Her ongoing research includes explorations of rangatahi experiences with smoking and vaping, HIV treatment adherence in Māori populations, tuberculosis elimination efforts for Māori, and the safety profile of ondansetron during pregnancy. Notable contributions include developing the Science of Medicines – Whakatere Waka, a hands-on mobile exhibition for educating communities about medicines. Key publications feature McCarty, G., Maclennan, K. et al. (2025). Kia Whakatōmuri te Haere Whakamua: Applying an Indigenous qualitative method with rangatahi Māori and whānau, MAI Journal, 14(2); Bateman, J., Egan, R., & Maclennan, K. (2023). 'Survivorship care is one big gap': a qualitative study of post-treatment supportive care in Aotearoa New Zealand, BMC Health Services Research, 23, 594; and Chambers, T. et al. (2022). Expert insights on digital contact tracing: interviews with contact tracing policy professionals in New Zealand, Health Promotion International. Dr Maclennan holds positions as a board member of the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand, member of ASPIRE Aotearoa - achieving a nicotine-free future and the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Network Core Academic Group, and executive member of Te Poutama Māori - University of Otago Māori Academic Staff Collective. Her work significantly influences public health practices, particularly in advancing Māori health equity and youth engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand.