Our Team
Dr Byrdie Johnston is an experienced GP who has lived and worked in the Eastern Bay of Plenty for over 10 years.
She is stoked to be working with a fantastic team of people who love living in the Eastern Bay and share her love for General Practice.
Dr Byrdie Johnston
BHB, MBChB, FRNZCGP
General Practitioner and Director
Dr Byrdie was born and raised in Te Puke and attended Auckland's School of Medicine. She has been a doctor since 2002; and a GP since 2007.
The name "Thrive Medical" was chosen to reflect Dr Byrdie's passion for preventive care. Mental and physical wellness starts with keeping things simple and getting the basics right. Her aim is to help patients feel inspired about making positive changes in their life.
Dr Byrdie is interested in all aspects of General Practice. She encourages her patients to take an interest in their own health decision-making. She is good at explaining things in simple logical language so that patients have a clearer understanding of their health situation and 'what the plan is'.
Byrdie is married to a sheep and beef farmer and they have 3 school-aged children.
Lacey Burnett
DNP, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Lacey Burnett is a United States trained Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). As a DNP FNP, she is trained to treat the entire family, from infancy to older adulthood. Her care includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the majority of conditions that may present to primary care with the understanding that some individuals require a collaborative approach with other members of the health care team. She offers a range of minor surgery procedures including long-acting contraception management.
Lacey worked in multiple acute care settings until discovering her passion for primary care and its role in disease prevention, early detection, and chronic illness management. She enjoys getting to know her clients and strives to foster a holistic, collaborative, and therapeutic relationship which encourages active participation of clients to improve health and functional status. She hopes her work as a nurse practitioner will help decrease health disparities and improve population health, especially for underserved and marginalized individuals and families.
Lacey is thrilled to be part of the team at Thrive Medical and helping improve the health and well-being of the people of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Lacey is married to a GP and they have 2 young sons.
Astrid van der Meer
FRNZCGP
General Practitioner
Astrid is originally from The Netherlands where she trained as a doctor and became a GP in 2013.
She moved to New Zealand to have a better lifestyle. After working for several years in town she chose to switch to a family practice that suited her holistic approach. Astrid is a compassionate listener and puts the patient in the centre of their own health journey. She has a special interest in mental health and end-of-life care. The journey starts with the patient being heard.
Astrid is a single mum of two school-aged children. She loves to walk in nature and write poetry to keep her work-life balance.
Dr Jenny Pearson
MBBS, FRNZCGP
General Practitioner
Jenny graduated from the University of Queensland in 1987. She worked in rural and remote areas of Australia including as far north as the Torres Straits. After arriving in NZ 28 years ago she worked for an extended period of time in Ruatoki and Taneatua then did several years of locum work around the country. She also assisted with after hours cover for the mental health service in Whakatane and Tauranga.
She enjoys general practice because of the variety it brings. She joined Thrive because she believes in the same ethos as Byrdie and likes to see patients take a lead role their own health journey. She has two adult children and is a grandmother of one.
Dr Jim McKevitt
MBCHB, Dip Obst, FRNZCGP
General Practitioner
Dr Jim McKevitt has been been a GP in Whakatane for over thirty years.
He feels very honoured to be invited to work part-time at Thrive Medical, because it embodies the values of general practice that had originally drawn him to become a GP.
“I was immediately impressed when I first entered the Thrive building, to hear laughter....We know that medicine is a serious business, but positive encouragement and positive attitudes at the front desk set a good start!
Laughter is still good medicine.
I still contribute as a GP, and love the family atmosphere at Thrive. Being surrounded by younger practitioners, I am kept in my toes, and continue to learn new things every day, but am also glad that I am able to pass on
some knowledge and experience."
Jenny
Extended Care Paramedic
Jenny grew up in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and is thrilled to return after spending 15 years away. She is excited to actively engage with the community and collaborate with the team at Thrive as an Extended Care Paramedic.
She holds a postgraduate diploma in Extended Care Paramedicine and Critical Care Paramedicine and also works as a paramedic for Hato Hone St John.
Jenny finds great fulfillment working within the community and helping patients to achieve their wellness goals. She and her young family relish the lifestyle in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, taking full advantage of the beautiful beaches, fishing, diving, bush walks, and idyllic camping spots the region has to offer.
Michelle
BNurs
Nurse Lead
Michelle has 27 years of experience in nursing across both hospital and General Practice settings in New Zealand and Australia.
Her career has been driven by a deep commitment to patient care and well-being. Outside of work, she cherishes spending time with her partner, two children, and quality moments with friends and family.
Her passions include gardening, fishing, socialising (and the thrill of ziplining!) which provides a refreshing balance in her life.
Melissa
BCompN PGcert TravMed
Nurse Prescriber
Melissa is a very experienced Practice Nurse. She is dedicated to providing quality nursing and promoting health and well-being within the Eastern Bay community. She completed her Bachelor of Nursing in 2003 at WINTEC, then gained her Community Nurse Prescriber qualification in 2023.
Raised in the South Waikato, she moved to the Eastern Bay of Plenty in 2008. Her passion is primary health care and she loves all aspects of primary health nursing. Her special interests are supporting patients with their long term management of respiratory conditions like COPD/Asthma (including offering Spirometry); as well as Travel Medicine and specialised micro ear suctioning. Melissa gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Travel Medicine through Otago University. She enjoys providing patients with up to date travel advice and vaccinations.
Melissa is married with 3 children and she loves to spend time outdoors, fishing, and supporting her children at all their sporting interests.
Monique
BNurs
Nurse
Monique completed her Bachelor of Nursing in 2014 at Waikato Institute of Technology. She completed her Post-Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences with the University of Auckland in 2016.
Monique's nursing career has predominantly been in general practice, with a stint as a Public Health Nurse in the Waikato region.
Monique was born in Whakatane Hospital and raised on dry stock farm between Opotiki and Gisborne (Wairata) and did her primary schooling in Opotiki. She comes from a large blended Whanau and now lives locally in Whakatane with her partner and two primary school aged daughters (plus a neurotic but lovable english staffy called Coco).
She is passionate about delivering quality healthcare, in a caring and respectful manner and dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment. Monique loves a laugh and enjoys getting to know her patients and building a trusting and therapeutic relationship. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, catching (not fishing) and walks on the beach (whatever the weather).
Donna
BNurs
Nurse Prescriber
Donna has been a Practice Nurse since 2005. She completed the Community Nurse Prescriber Course in 2023.
Donna grew up in Auckland and completed her Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) at Auckland University of Technology in 2003. She moved to Whakatane in 2004 to complete the New Graduate Programme at Whakatane Hospital. She started Practice Nursing in 2005 and have been working in General Practice since then, with a small break to help the Outreach Vaccination team before joining the team at Thrive Medical.
She is married with 2 teenage boys. She plays golf, enjoys quality time with her friends and family, and spends week nights and weekends watching her children play sports. Donna enjoys the variety that General Practice has to offer and likes that in General Practice she can build long term relationships with her patients and their families and provide education to help families on their own health journeys.
Marrianne
Healthcare Assistant
Marrianne has lived in Whakatane for 27 years and loves the beautiful Bay and the people in it.
The outdoors, bush walks, bike riding and kayaking are a great drawcard for her and her family.
She worked in Pharmacy for 18 years, and then in General practice as a Health care assistant for 8 years prior to joining Thrive. She enjoys the connection with patients and the opportunity to help people along their health journey.
Helen
Dip. Nursing, Adv. Dip Nursing (MH), MHSc
Health Improvement Practitioner
Helen is a Registered Nurse, with an advanced diploma in nursing (in mental health) and a Master's in Health Science. She is also a trained life coach. She has joined the team as a Health Improvement Practitioner and sees all ages for support with mental and physical issues.
Helen has worked in psychiatry for many years in South Auckland as well as a holistic health practitioner in central Auckland, bringing a wide range of skills and knowledge to her practice. She takes a whole approach to health care understanding that health is a holistic concept that involves physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Helen and her partner moved to Whakatane from South Auckland in 2022 and love their new lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty.
Lana
NZIM Diploma in Practice Management
Practice Manager
Lana was born and raised in Whakatane and has 10 years experience in Primary Care. Her previous roles include Practice Manager for both small and large General Practices here in the Eastern Bay, as well as other leadership roles within the Sector. She is one of only a few qualified Practice Managers in New Zealand. She enjoys the business side of General Practice; her passion is ensuring that the operational functions of a General Practice are of most benefit to the enrolled population, and ensuring the sustainability of General Practice.
Lana is excited to be a part of Thrive Medical, working alongside an amazing team to make a positive difference in our community.
Lana's family include her partner and two young sons.
Tania
Reception Team Lead
Tania was born and raised in Whakatane.
Tania has been a medical reception team lead for a number of years and has previously held other front line positions.
Tania is really passionate about making that first connection with patients a valued experience.
Her interests outside of work are keeping active, walking our beautiful Nga Tapa Wai tracks and biking trails, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Elise
Receptionist
Elise was born and raised in Kawerau. She has had 30 years of administration experience working in Corporate, Recruitment and Engineering Sectors within New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Although the medical sector is new to Elise, she is excited to be supporting Dr Byrdie and her team and is looking forward to building positive relationships with staff and patients within the Practice.
In her spare time, Elise enjoys travelling and spending time with her friends and family. She is married to a Mechanical Design Engineer and they have two teenage children.
