The National University of Samoa in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Orthopedic Association (PIOA) focus on promoting and developing modern orthopedic surgical care in the Islands of the South Pacific.
In a statement issued indicated that PIOA was established in Honiara, Solomon Islands and is now established all over the Pacific Island countries. PIOA has trainees from nine Pacific Island countries (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Kiribati, Federated states of Micronesia, Timor Leste and Vanuatu).
In 2018, the National University of Samoa signed an MOU with PIOA to deliver the Master of Surgery (Orthopedics) in partnership with our NUS School of Medicine.
“To date, there have been seven graduates of the program (2 from Samoa, 3 from Solomon Islands and 2 from Fiji). “A further twenty-four students are currently enrolled in various stages of the program. “The program runs live in blocks for 3 weeks twice and year and runs weekly sessions via Zoom. Supervisory visits to trainees are also carried out by visiting teams.
“The main benefit of this training over the last 10 years is that we have revolutionized how training is done in the Pacific by training doctors in their own country, so we don’t lose our workforce. This helps each of our trainees to identify the needs in their country, and advocate for how they can improve the delivery of orthopedic services.”
A key part of the program is continued support we offer our trainees in mentorship and help them with implants and equipment to deliver proper orthopedic care in the pacific,” according to Dr. Shaun Mauiliu – President of PIOA.
At the completion of all modules, trainees sit an exit exam modelled on the FRACS exit exam with examiners from Australia and New Zealand alongside our graduates who are being trained as examiners.
“In our latest graduation in March, we celebrate the graduation of two of our students Dr. Areta Samuelu from Samoa and Pita Sovanivalu from Fiji. Dr. Shaun Mauiliu – President PIOA and Dr.Des Soares, Secretary, lecturer and founder of PIOA were in attendance.”
