The now-famous face of New Zealand’s well being system all through the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic has a brand new job.

Former director-general of well being Dr Ashley Bloomfield will function a professor on the University of Auckland, the place he’ll assist set up after which chair its new Public Policy Impact Institute.

Bloomfield, who in April stepped down as New Zealand’s prime well being official after 4 years within the job, begins his new position on January 31.

He was wanting ahead to working alongside colleagues on the college’s School of Population Health.

“The proposed Public Policy Impact Institute is a great opportunity to strengthen the link between the University’s world-class research and the development and implementation of policy,” he stated.

“The intent is clear – to help improve a range of social and economic outcomes in Aotearoa with a strong focus on equity.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater stated Bloomfield’s new place was a pure development following his in depth public well being profession, culminating in his management through the Covid-19 pandemic. “Professor Bloomfield brings enormous experience to the university,” she stated.

“We look forward to him joining the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and also using his public policy expertise to build our new Public Policy Impact Institute.”

It’s one thing of a homecoming for the daddy of three, who graduated from the University of Auckland in 1997 with a Masters of Public Health with first-class honours.

After spending a lot of the Nineteen Nineties as a public well being specialist, his rise to grow to be director-general in 2018 included stints because the ministry’s chief public well being adviser and head of the Hutt Valley and Capital and Coast DHBs.

Then got here Covid-19.

Back in early February 2020, Bloomfield was pushing the Government to increase the restricted journey ban it had in place.

But it was the day by day 1pm briefings that introduced him into the limelight.

Ordinary Kiwis had been taken and reassured by Bloomfield’s exceptional savoir-faire – one thing much less shocking to colleagues who already knew him as measured, methodical and hyper-competent.

For many, admiration gave technique to adoration, and the so-nicknamed “Curve Crusher” discovered himself the unlikely topic of fawning TikTok movies, media tales and fan accounts on Twitter.

As former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer wrote in an opinion piece in The Spinoff: “It is a long time since a public servant has become so well-known.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated of Bloomfield on the day her frequent companion on the Beehive lectern introduced his resignation: “Through his tireless dedication, his focus on people, his calm and considered approach – he has been a true public servant.”