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Meet The Team

Our Practice

Health Te Aroha started in the late 1990’s. Tertius Coetzer and Paul Henry amalgamated three of the four solo practices in Te Aroha into one practice and named it Health Te Aroha. This practice moved into a purpose built building in 2001 where it has stayed until today.

During this time we brought pharmacy, pathlab, physio and the dentist into the building. We also offer specialist appointments,… a midwife and diabetes nurse specialist.

In 2005 Brendon Eade joined the practice and Health Te Aroha was first given CORNERSTONE accreditation the year after in 2006.

Hayley Scott then joined the practice as a GP in 2007, becoming a director in 2010.

In 2012 we became one of the first privately owned practices in Midlands Health Network to adopt the Health Care Home. This change is now well embedded in the practice.

In December 2016 we said farewell to Paul Henry as he retired from the practice, and Melissa Titterton who joined us as a GP in 2014, stepped up to full time to take over his patients.

We currently have 5500 patients and we offer care to the local community, covering the local rest homes, the community trust hospital and also college clinics.

Since 2006 the practice has been active in teaching. We take fourth and sixth year medical students and also have registrars engaged in their education at the practice.

We are a practice that is quality focused and enjoys innovation and being at the forefront of general practice.

The practice has prided itself on performing well in the quality plan with Midlands Health. In 2016 we achieved first place in the PHO for our quality performance.

Our Team

  • Dr Brendon Eade

    B.Sc, MBChB, MRCGP, FRNZCGP, Dip IMC

    I was born and bred in Waikato and underwent my medical training at the University of Auckland. In the late 1990s, I travelled to Scotland, where I underwent post graduate training in general practice. On my return to NZ in 2004, I undertook further study and completed my Fellowship to the NZ College of General Practice in 2006. I enjoy all aspects of general practice, including family medicine, minor surgery, school clinics, emergency medicine and elderly care.

    I am actively involved in teaching and enjoy working with trainee interns, PGY House surgeons and GP registrars. I am active in the oversight of Quality plans for general practices in the central North Island, through involvement with Midlands Health Network. I began work initially as a locum for Health Te Aroha in 2004, becoming a partner in 2005, joining GPs Tertius and Paul.

    Outside the medical centre, my interests include fitness (gym work, running, cycling) and music. I am a New Zealand Champion Bagpiper, currently active in competing, performing, judging and teaching all aspects of this instrument. I was Pipe Major of the Hamilton Caledonian Society's pipe band from 2007-2009. I have won numerous prestigious prizes competing in Scotland in international events. I am married to Meleana, a talented piper in her own right. We have two children.

  • Dr Hayley Scott

    MBChB, FRNZCGP, dip Paeds, post grad cert Women's Health

    I grew up in Taupo and went to Otago Medical School. I have always had an interest in general practice, and it was always my intention to become a GP once I was trained. After qualifying as a GP, I worked in Tauranga for a few years, until I met my husband Richard who was dairy farming at the time. This prompted a move to Te Aroha and rural medicine, and I joined the practice in 2006. I became a partner in 2010 after having my children and have worked full time since then.

    As a female GP, I have developed an interest in women's health and have a post graduate certificate in this subject from Otago. I also has a diploma in child health. Additionally, I have worked in the area of smoking cessation and am passionate about helping people stop smoking and live healthier lives.

    I have two children who keep me and my husband busy at home. I also have a passion for patchwork, and my husband is involved in agility training of our fox terriers.

  • Dr Keegan Edwardson

    MBChB

    Keegan grew up in Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty. He completed his degree at Auckland Medical School.
    Keegan enjoys all aspects of being a GP and being able to help all those who come through the practice. Outside of work Keegan has a keen interest in the gym and almost all sports especially rugby and touch rugby.

  • Dr Annabelle McGowan

    MBChB, BPChP,

    I spent my childhood in the Waikato then trained as a Pharmacist at the University of Otago, Dunedin. I worked as a Community Pharmacist in both New Zealand and Ireland for 8 years before moving back home. I then returned to University of Otago, to study medicine. I completed my clinical years in Christchurch, graduating 2016. I moved back to the Waikato to be closer to family and have worked as a General Practitioner since 2020. When not at work I am usually spending time with my family.

  • Katherine McLeod

    Nurse Practitioner

    I was born and raised in rural Otago and Canterbury and completed my initial nursing training in Invercargill in 1995. I began my career in Christchurch, which included older adult nursing along with some surgical and general medical experience. My two children were born in Christchurch and in 2007 we moved north to settle in the Waikato where I continued in advanced nursing and management roles within the Aged Care sector, most recently in Te Aroha and Putaruru.
    As the children became a bit older, I began post graduate studies. I graduated from The University of Auckland with and Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences with merit in 2017, registered as a Nurse Prescriber in 2019 and gained a Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2022. I have recently registered as Nurse Practitioner, and am excited to be working with the primary care team at Health Te Aroha. My area of special interest is with the older adult, but all aspects of primary care bring me personal and professional satisfaction. My children are now at University in Wellington, and I live in Hamilton with my fiancé and 2 dogs. I am a keen fisher-woman and enjoy getting outdoors whenever I can.

  • Ryan Narciso

    Physician Associate

    Ryan is a Physician Associate (PA-C). They have recently moved from Washington, USA.
    They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies. They are nationally certified (the “C” in PA-C) through the NCCPA in the United States.
    Ryan has been a certified Physician Associate in family medicine/acute care for the last 12 years. They have also served as a Proctor for Clinical Reasoning Assessments for first and second year students at University of Washington.
    There is a wide array of things that light them up. Among them are eating delicious food from various cultures around the world, enjoying a scenic hike and singing their heart out at karaoke. They would love to hear any recommendations you have for places to eat or visit and things to do to help them make Waikato feel like home.
    What is a Physician Associate?
    Physician associates are highly trained healthcare professionals who work as a part of the medical team. PAs are trained under the medical model like doctors and are hired to work as an extension of a doctor under the doctor's delegation. They have existed in the U.S. since the mid 1960s and are currently working and being trialled all over the world.
    PAs typically obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists as required, and first or second-assist in surgery.
    Because New Zealand is in the early stages of registering PAs as a medical profession here, there will be limitations on their scope of practice. All PAs’ work at Health Te Aroha is checked and signed off by a GP

  • Justine Gadd

    PA-C, MPAS

    Who is Justine?

    Justine is a Physician Associate (PA-C). She recently moved here with her husband and son (and two dogs) from Vermont in the USA. She feels very fortunate to live and work in beautiful New Zealand.

    She holds a Bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and ecology and a Master’s degree in Infectious diseases. She is nationally certified (the “C” in PA-C) through the NCCPA in the United States.

    Justine has been a Physician Associate in family medicine for over 20 years at the same rural clinic. She has proctored other physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical students as well as mentored high school students interested in the medical profession. She has been a medical volunteer overseas in Haiti, Guatemala, and Greece.

    Life at home is spent with family-- hiking, exploring in nature, fishing, gardening and baking.

    What is a Physician Associate?

    Physician associates are highly trained healthcare professionals who work as a part of the medical team. PAs are trained under the medical model like doctors and are hired to work as an extension of a doctor under the doctor's delegation. They have existed in the U.S. since the mid 1960s and are currently working and being trialled all over the world.

    PAs typically obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists as required, and first or second-assist in surgery.

    Because New Zealand is in the early stages of registering PAs as a medical profession here, there will be limitations on their scope of practice. All PAs’ work at Health Te Aroha is checked and signed off by a GP.