Family Planning Identity Retires
27 June, 2005
Family Planning Association identity Dr Margaret Sparrow has retired after nearly 34 years with Family Planning.
Dr Sparrow completed her last FPA clinic – carrying out five scheduled vasectomies on Friday
FPA Executive Director, Dr Gill Greer, said the organisation owed much to Dr Sparrow who has had a most distinguished
career spanning 42 years in medicine.
“Dr Sparrow has held various roles within the New Zealand Family Planning Association since 1971, including that of
Senior Medical Officer, Medical Director and an Honorary Vice President. She pioneered the first vasectomy clinic in
Wellington, is an internationally respected researcher, mentor, author and advocate whose significant contribution has
been marked by many awards.
“Dr Sparrow’s many published research papers have given a greater understanding to the complexities of sexual and
reproductive health and this legacy is a significant benefit to us all. Dr Sparrow is an author and respected lecturer –
having taught 4th and 5th year medical students since 1977.
“She is remembered with gratitude by the many clients she has cared for and by the clinical staff she has worked
alongside and mentored over the years.
“We also admire Dr Sparrow’s commitment to making abortion a safe and legal choice for women in New Zealand, including
the introduction of medical abortion. Her unswerving work has been for improving the sexual and reproductive health
rights of New Zealand men and women, by improving family planning practices to reduce the need for abortion,” Dr Greer
said.
In recognition of Dr Sparrow’s extraordinary career, the Family Planning Association has increased its annual research
grant and named it the Dr Margaret Sparrow Research Grant, for research by FPA staff in the field of sexual and
reproductive health. In 1987, the Wellington FPA Clinic in Victoria Street was named the Margaret Sparrow Clinic in her
honour.
ENDS