{"id":64,"date":"2025-05-21T08:56:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T22:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/volume-01-2025\/?p=64"},"modified":"2026-06-29T14:36:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T04:36:33","slug":"the-journey-into-gynaecology-interview-with-dr-olivia-smart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/the-journey-into-gynaecology-interview-with-dr-olivia-smart\/","title":{"rendered":"The journey into Gynaecology: Interview with Dr Olivia Smart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tThe journey into Gynaecology: Interview with Dr Olivia Smart \t<\/h1>\n\t\"\"Dr Olivia Smart | MBBS FRANZCOG
\nGynaecologist | Women’s health advocate |
\nCo-founder, Nu Natural<\/strong>\n

Tell us about your journey into gynaecology<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was initially drawn to the surgical side of gynaecology and the fast-paced nature of obstetrics. In recent years, I have chosen to focus solely on gynaecology in a combined public and private role. It offers a rewarding balance of operating, teaching, and clinical care, while supporting better work-life integration. Stepping away from obstetrics was harder than I expected, but I believe we need to keep re-evaluating our roles and how our work shapes our sense of identity, throughout our careers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Access to healthcare continues to be an issue for many women. What are the key challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Equitable access remains a major issue both locally and nationally in Aotearoa New Zealand. This sits within the broader context of a persistent gender health gap that affects access, funding, and referral pathways for women and AFAB people seeking specialist treatment.<\/p>\n

Demand for gynaecology services continues to outstrip capacity, leading to long wait times and even, in some areas, being denied access to care.
Although these conditions are not usually life-threatening, they are often life-altering. Symptoms are normalised for too long, meaning that women present late and opportunities for early intervention are missed. Improving access to and prioritisation of gynaecology care remains essential. When women are furnished with knowledge and tools they may be better able to advocate for their own health.<\/p>\n

What led you to start a company?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

The idea for Nu Natural came directly from what I was seeing in clinic. Almost every day, I meet patients with GSM who have not received adequate education or treatment for hypo-oestrogenic vulvovaginal symptoms.<\/p>\n

The business initially focused on developing an oil-based lubricant (Nu balm) aimed at the postmenopausal population. However, it soon became clear that the greater need was for both education and a broader product. Our mission is to help women and clinicians understand the biological basis of genital and urinary symptoms and to normalise conversations about them. <\/p>\n

A key goal has been to reduce stigma and raise awareness so that women of all ages recognise symptoms earlier and seek treatment sooner. If we could achieve the simple goal of every woman knowing that sex should not be painful, I would be very happy. <\/p>\n

What keeps you motivated?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

At its core our work is about making a difference, and that sense of purpose keeps me motivated. Whether it is helping someone overcome symptoms, regain function, improve intimacy, or simply feel heard, those moments of transformation continue to inspire me. I think many of us reach a stage where success becomes less about achievement and more about impact. <\/p>\n

Teaching has always been a major source of professional fulfilment. I enjoy helping trainees build confidence in the operating theatre and supporting the next generation of gynaecologists to thrive. A few years ago, I completed the Academy of Surgical Coaching course, which reinforced the value of curiosity, feedback and reflective practice in surgical education. A highlight of this year was meeting Dr Cara King at the Auckland ASM. Her energy, generosity, and passion for surgical coaching were inspiring and deepened my commitment to education. <\/p>\n

Quick Fire Questions<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Coffee or tea?<\/strong> Coffee 
Favourite place in New Zealand?<\/strong> Queenstown 
Current hobby?<\/strong> Adventure racing and yoga 
Best career advice?<\/strong> Listen carefully-patients will tell you what matters most. 
What gives you hope?<\/strong> The growing recognition of women’s health issues and the collective commitment to improving care across the system. <\/p>\n\t

\"\"<\/p>\nInterview by Dr Keryn Harlow
\nMBChB, DipObs, FRANZCOG
\nFertility Associates Christchurch\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Olivia Smart discusses her transition to gynaecology, addressing New Zealand’s health equity gaps, launching Nu Natural, and empowering the next generation through surgical coaching.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/escope.ages.com.au\/july-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}