{{Short description|New Zealand microbiologist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Helen Heffernan | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=100%}} | image = Helen Heffernan CNZM (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Heffernan in 2020 | birth_date = {{#statements:P569}} | birth_place = {{#statements:P19}} | death_date = {{#statements:P570}} | death_place = {{#statements:P20}} | field = Microbiology | workplaces = {{#statements:P108}} | patrons = | alma_mater = {{#statements:P69}} | thesis1_title = | thesis1_url = | thesis1_year = | doctoral_advisor = {{#statements:P184}} | academic_advisors = {{#statements:P1066}} | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = <!--(filename only)--> | signature_alt = | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} --> | footnotes = | spouse = | children = }} '''Helen Mary Heffernan''' {{Post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM}} is a New Zealand microbiologist, specialising in antibiotic resistance. In 2020, she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health. The Institute of Environmental Science and Research awarded Heffernan their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
==Academic career== Heffernan earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Otago.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 March 2020 |title=Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit CNZM |url=https://alumni.otago.ac.nz/page.redir?target=https%3A%2F%2Falumni.otago.ac.nz%2Fdocument.doc%3Fid%3D750&srcid=37499&srctid=1&erid=6772101&trid=ff2f21d7-a5a6-4ebf-9f6d-b45ed413964f |work=Alumni in the News, University of Otago}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ORCID |url=https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1801-5174 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=orcid.org}}</ref> She worked at New Zealand's National Health Institute and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), a Crown Research Institute.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Woolf |first=Amber-Leigh |date=31 December 2019 |title=Helen Heffernan says everyone can help in the fight against antibiotic resistance |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/118486715/helen-heffernan-says-everyone-can-help-in-the-fight-against-antibiotic-resistance |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}</ref>
Heffernan's research involved the development of cold chain standards, which are important for the safe management and storage of vaccines.<ref name=":1" /> She also carried out surveillance for infectious diseases, allowing the rate of spread of antimicrobial resistance to be slowed.<ref name=":0" /> Heffernan's research was the basis for vaccine programmes against haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus and meningococcus.<ref name=":1" />
Heffernan was a member a number of national committees, including the National Antimicrobial Committee, the Ministry for Primary Industries' Technical Advisory Group, and the Ministry of Health's Pneumococcal Surveillance Advisory Group.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-12-13 |title=New Year Honours 2020 – Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2020-cnzm |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref> She spoke about New Zealand's place in the 'global antimicrobial crisis' at the One Health symposium in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Health Focus |url=https://www.esr.cri.nz/news-publications/global-health-focus/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.esr.cri.nz |language=en}}</ref> She also represented New Zealand at regional meetings in the Pacific, and at the World Health Organization's workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
==Honours and awards== In the 2020 New Year Honours, Heffernan was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health.<ref name=":0" /> On her appointment, Heffernan asked New Zealanders to play their part to reduce antibiotic resistance, saying, "While antibiotics are essential medicines to treat bacterial infections, we overuse and misuse them and this contributes to resistance".<ref name=":1" /> On her retirement in 2018, after a 43-year career, ESR awarded Heffernan their Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESR – Science and Research – A large turnout today to farewell ESR scientist and world-renowned expert on anti-microbial resistance, Dr Helen Heffernan. She retires after 43 years of service to science, many research publications and thousands of citations. Keith McLea, ESR CE, awarded her the rarely given ESR Lifetime Achievement Award. Accolades poured in for Helen with one scientist calling her a "national treasure" and another the "most significant working relationship I have had in my career to date". Another said "the length, breadth and depth of her knowledge of antimicrobial resistance, not only in NZ, but globally is unsurpassed." The whole of ESR wishes her all the best in her retirement and we look forward to hearing of her adventures from now on. {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/ESRNewZealand/photos/a-large-turnout-today-to-farewell-esr-scientist-and-world-renowned-expert-on-ant/2199096946791019/?paipv=0&eav=AfYhklrwHcSbfc8KFK1xswqJzel7MUYKIjqigqSoz_F76C9KXEiCBUpB7OGpjIF7sLw&_rdr |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Selected works == {{scholia}} * {{CiteQ|Q24598936}} * {{CiteQ|Q130355931}} * {{CiteQ|Q48050341}} * {{CiteQ|Q45138244}} * {{CiteQ|Q40686052}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heffernan, Helen}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:New Zealand scientists Category:New Zealand women scientists Category:University of Otago alumni Category:New Zealand microbiologists Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit