Dr MacDiarmid played a key role in serving the Cook Islands community with his practice while also helping to develop young surgeons in the Pacific region.

PMA Board Chair, Dr Kiki Maoate (ONZM, FRACS), says he will be remembered for his servant heart and time in helping mentor surgeons in the Pacific region.

“When we look at a lot of our young surgeons, a lot of their orthopedic practice in the Pacific has been shaped by Andy’s teaching and mentoring. He was really generous around his clinical advice and also provided time to teach them in their home countries.

Without that teaching and investment, patients in the Pacific wouldn’t have been able to have orthopedic surgery and that is a legacy we see coming through the next generation of surgeons.

PMA is a group of health professionals across the region and we’re a very close family, so we offer our condolences to Andy’s family.”

Over three decades, Dr MacDiarmid operated on over 3,000 Cook Islanders. He was awarded Honorary Permanent Residence by the Cook Islands Government in November 2012 for his services to the Cook Islands community.

PMA CEO Debbie Sorensen acknowledges Dr MacDiarmid’s contribution and service to the Cook Islands community.

“He will be remembered for his selfless service to the Cook Islands, to the wider Pacific community and people. He donated a huge amount of his time and resources to provide orthopaedic services to the Cook Islands over many years.

He had a very caring manner about him in the way that he taught people and was quite remarkable for his commitment not only to the Cook Islands, but to our younger surgeons in the Pacific region.

We’re deeply saddened by his loss but incredibly grateful to have had him stand amongst us. He had a generous heart for Pacific people and we have been very blessed that he chose us to stand with.”

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Date: Friday 22 October 2021