Day 3 | Session 10 | Plenary | Advocacy
Advocacy at scale: what educating millions online can teach us about clinical communication
Drawing on her experience as Mama Doctor Jones, Dr Danielle Jones translates lessons from educating millions online into practical approaches for everyday clinical communication.
This presentation explores how accessible language, humour and empathy can build trust, address misinformation and support conversations about sensitive topics, with strategies clinicians can apply in their own practice.
Dr Danielle Jones (Mama Doctor Jones)
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Clinical communicator
Dr Danielle Jones, known internationally as “MDJ” or Mama Doctor Jones, is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, prominent content creator and leader in clinical colposcopy, serving as Southland’s Lead Colposcopist and a Clinical Reviewer for Aotearoa’s National Cervical Screening Programme.
A thought leader in science communication and advocacy, she combines clinical expertise, humour and candid conversation to reach millions worldwide. Her evidence-based education challenges misinformation and empowers women and AFAB people to make informed decisions about their health.
Advocating within the mesh service
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Dr Louise Tomlinson
Gynaecologist with special interest in Urogynaecology
Auckland
Bio
“All In”: Equitable health outcomes require culturally safe care for everybody
In May 2026, the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, was introduced into the New Zealand Parliament; seeking to legally define “woman” in law as “an adult human biological female”, and “man” as “an adult human biological male”. It would affect how trans, non-binary, takatāpui, and intersex people are viewed in the eyes of the law, weakening anti-discrimination protections and restricting rights and access to healthcare.
RANZCOG’s commitment to cultural safety is an important asset to guide health professionals as we grapple with how to respond to the Bill. Equitable health outcomes for everyone depend on it.
Associate Professor Sara Filoche
Head of Department
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
University of Otago, Wellington
Sara is named after her Welsh and English grannies and 20 odd years ago she moved to Aotearoa to work in drug discovery. She is a mum of two, and you will often find her on the beach.
Sara is a health services researcher and lecturer at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. She works with many wonderful people in collective and community-based approaches that are all premised on providing culturally safe, inclusive and equitable healthcare.
Some of the projects Sara is involved in are: prenatal genetic and genomic screening; co-designing consumer resources for chronic gynaecological conditions; marae-based cancer prevention screening services; culture centred design of healthcare facilities and trans inclusion in medical education and perinatal care services.
RANZCOG Advocacy
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Dr Emma Jackson
Vice President
RANZCOG Aotearoa
Bio