James Goodrich and Rebecca Imrie.
Cambridge dentist James Goodrich has been honoured with a New Zealand Dental Association Public Service Award.
Cambridge dentist Dr James Goodrich has been honoured for his extensive body of work within the field. Photo: supplied
The award recognises a member who exemplifies humanitarian ideals and attributes and was presented at the association’s recent awards dinner in Christchurch.
The 2024 Public Service Award was shared between Goodrich and Auckland’s Dr David Wallbridge.
On all counts, it could be made-to-measure for Goodrich, a genial dental practitioner and forensic odontologist with a fulsome backstory.
His Bachelor of Dental Surgery (with distinction) is from the University of Otago; he is a Fellow of the Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, and a Fellow of the New Zealand Society of Pathologists. He serves on multiple Boards in various countries and often speaks at international conferences.
He is president of the New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology, and serves as technical advisor to the National Institute of Forensic Science, and the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency. He is also the New Zealand observer for the International Organisation for Standardisation in forensic odontology, and an associate editor of the Egyptian Journal of Forensic Science.
In 2015, Goodrich was the only New Zealander involved in the recovery and repatriation of the remains of American Marine, 1st Lt Alexander ‘Sandy’ Bonnyman Jr, one of four recipients of the US Medal of Honour for action in the WW2 battle on Tarawa in the Pacific. Goodrich joined a team led by Florida’s History Flight, an organisation working with the United States defence forces to recover the remains of missing US service personnel. At the time, Goodrich described the experience as a privilege and ‘very humbling’.
He has worked in Cambridge since 1999, running his practice and continuing to contribute to the police, coronial services and the New Zealand Defence Force as a forensic odontologist, covering events such as the Christchurch earthquakes, the Mosque shootings, and the Whakaari White Island volcano eruption.
He is also active in the field of mental health. He has a certificate in Global Mental Health from Harvard Medical School and is involved with Mates Matter NZ – an organisation promoting mental wellness in the Waikato.
Any down time is likely taken up with his study of Tikanga Māori, or his ties to the Cambridge High School Board of Trustees. He recently accompanied his daughter Annabel Goodrich, a national junior target shooter and captain of the CHS shooting team, on an away trip.
As for the award? “It’s a great honour for me. The very nature of forensic work is that it comes at such short notice. I wouldn’t have been able take the time off for that work without the support of my staff and patient base. I am very grateful to them all.”
Dr James Goodrich, dressed for the ‘Black and Bling’ New Zealand Dental Association dinner theme, pictured after the presentation of his award. With him is Medical Protection Society regional manager Rebecca Imrie. Photo: supplied
