Talofa lava! O lo’u igoa o Taliah Su’a. I am half Samoan, half NZ Pākeha. I was born and raised in Whanganui with my four younger siblings. My grandparents moved from Samoa to Whanganui in the 1950’s where they had my dad and his siblings. My grandmother hails from the villages Papa and Lalomalava and my grandfather. My mother is Pākeha and moved to Whanganui from her hometown of Nelson to teach when she met my dad. My family is my ultimate why. Above anything else I am a daughter, sister, aunty, cousin and niece. The deep connection I have with my family and especially my parents and siblings, is what I have drawn strength from and who has kept me grounded throughout my studies.
In 2018, I moved from my hometown of Whanganui to live at Aquinas College at the University of Otago to take on health science first year (HSFY) with the aspirations of making it into medicine. In December 2018, I received an offer of entry into medicine. Fast forward to the end of 2022 and I managed to successfully pass my 5th year medical exams. I am currently in my 2nd year out of my medical studies, completing an intercalated PhD with the completion of my thesis and Trainee Intern year standing between me and graduation.
University has played a major role in my cultural journey; attending POPO mentoring as a HSFY student and becoming a mentor in my 3rd year, meeting other Pasifika students, and being involved in PIHPSA (Pacific Island Health Professional Students Association) events. I did not grow up speaking Samoan and learning the language has been a continual journey. When I entered medicine as a second-year student, like many other students, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I often felt swamped with feelings of inadequacy and frequently wondered whether I was good enough or Pacific enough to be in the space that I was. Grappling with those feelings are not easy, however, I leant on my family and my Pasifika peers for support.
Over time I grew to understand that I have every right to be in the space that I am and that I worked hard to be where I am. I bring to the table values and a set of relational skills that is different from my non-Pacific colleagues. My passion and dedication to serving my Pacific community in Aotearoa is what I bring to the healthcare system. My research has been my first step towards influencing the health experiences of our Pacific community.
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequelae rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and premature death amongst Pacific and Māori children in Aotearoa. In my studies I have been able to look into ARF in the Canterbury region. I described the epidemiology of ARF in the region over the past 10 years and learnt about the experiences of those affected by ARF in Canterbury through conducting interviews.
I am blessed and humbled to be able to tell the stories and experiences of the whānau who have participated in my study. Through learning about their experiences, I hope to identify ways we can improve the way we care for our whānau affected by ARF in Canterbury. In the next stages in my PhD, I will endeavour to describe the epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal infections in children with a particular focus on describing the burden amongst the Pacific community.
As I move through my studies, every day I feel intensely proud to be Pasifika. I feel proud to follow in the footsteps of those Pasifika health professionals and academics who have gone before me. I am continually inspired and energised by their passion and dedication to the betterment of the health of our Pacific communities.
