EPC proudly acknowledges Taliah’s achievement in submitting and publishing her research in the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ), a full-circle moment for her, as the journal falls under the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group umbrella. 

“"I’ve been really lucky to be supported by the team around me. My guiding supervisors and the lifelong advice they’ve given me, and also the year that I spent at Etu Pasifika – I look at this with fondness and gratitude. I learnt so much, not just from the clinical team, but also all of the different teams EPC have under their holistic approach to health and model of care." 

Reaching this milestone is a surreal achievement for Su’a.  

"To be able to summarise the first part of my intercalated PhD and have a successful submission in the NZMJ is such a surreal moment." 

Su’a is now moving into the second phase of her PhD, shifting her focus to Invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) - a distinct condition from General Group A Streptococcus (GAS). She aims to complete this research by November before returning to finish her medical degree at UoO. 

When asked about the highlights of her research journey, Su’a shared what has brought her the most joy. 

"The experiences are irreplaceable and held with high value. I’ve been able to attend great conferences, such as the PMA Conference hosted in Christchurch last year. I’ve been able to network and connect with other Pacific medical professionals, and I’ve also had real experience in a workplace that holds high Pacific values. 

"I’ve also enjoyed learning the process of research. Ethics, data collection and analysis, just to name a few. I feel the professional and personal growth has been expansive for me." 

The NZMJ article Su'a features in is available via open access for anyone to read. Her research was supported by Allamanda Faa’toese, Andrew Anglemyer, Tony Walls, and PMA’s own Kiki Maoate. 

EPC is thrilled to celebrate Taliah’s achievements and looks forward to the excellence she will continue to bring as she embarks on the next stage of her research.