Rate My Professor Sally Rimkeit

Dr. Sally Rimkeit serves as a Clinical Senior Lecturer and affiliate staff member in the Department of Psychological Medicine, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, primarily at the Wellington campus. Her academic background includes a BA from Pomona College, an MBChB from the University of Otago (completed 1994-1999 with special interest and merit in psychiatry), and an MA from the University of Chicago. She holds Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP), Advanced Training in Psychiatry of Old Age (ATPOA RANZCP), and Certificate Faculty Psychiatry of Old Age (Cert FPOA). Rimkeit co-convened the Stage I Formal Education Programme for psychiatry registrars with Dr. Adam Sims for nearly ten years until 2021, delivering weekly teaching sessions at Te Papa, Porirua campus, to over 100 registrars, adapting to Zoom during COVID-19 restrictions.

In clinical practice, she works as a Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychogeriatrician in private practice at The Dunes Practice, Wellington, following roles in the Psychogeriatric Service at Capital & Coast District Health Board (2014-2022). Her research focuses on psychogeriatrics, including younger onset dementia experiences in aged care, repeat self-harm and suicide predictors in older patients, and reading-based interventions for dementia. Key publications comprise 'Experiencing place: Younger people with dementia facing aged care' (Australasian Psychiatry, 2017, with Jacqueline McIntosh), 'Predictors for repeat self-harm and suicide among older hospital patients in New Zealand' (International Psychogeriatrics, 2017, with Gerry Cheung et al.), and 'Literary Alzheimer’s: A qualitative feasibility study of dementia-friendly book groups' (with Gillian Claridge). As co-founder of Dovetale Press, she produces adapted classic literature editions for dementia readers, supporting book groups in 12 New Zealand public libraries via 2020 training programs. She contributes as a founding trustee of Younger Onset Dementia Aotearoa Trust.