Deborah Robinson - All Blacks' Doctor

 

At a special full school assembly last Friday, All Blacks’ doctor Deborah Robinson was our special guest, receiving the distinguished Alumna Merita Award from the School for her contribution to Sports Medicine.

Diocesan’s Alumna Merita Award was introduced by former headmistress Dawn Jones in 1990 to honour Old Girls who are outstanding in their chosen field and excellent role models for students.

Dr Robinson is the only woman who has been an All Blacks’ doctor – a role she has had since 2006 – and she is also the only woman to have toured overseas with the national rugby side as part of their management team.

While still studying she set up her own elective at a sports clinic aligned to a Dunedin rugby club that she describes as “inspirational”. Even though sports medicine was not yet a speciality in New Zealand in the 1980s, it was a personal passion that Dr Robinson was determined to follow.

In 1990 she paid her own way through a one-year Diploma in Sports Medicine at London University – one of the first of its kind.

After returning to New Zealand to train in Christchurch as a general practitioner, she was employed at SportsMed where she has worked for 20 years as well as being a doctor for sports teams including the Crusaders (2002 to 2006) and the Silver Ferns(2004 - 2006).

Her New Zealand Rugby contract means she is usually the All Blacks’ doctor when they are assembled for six months of the year from July.

Dr Robinson spoke warmly about her time at Diocesan and advised the girls to make the best use of their opportunities, to follow their passions and not limit to their career options too soon.

Dr Robinson was supported at the presentation by a number of Old Girls from her peer year as well as family members.