I’m a Samoan GP working since 2005 in Northland. In partnership with my husband who is Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Maniapoto we are current practice owners and I have worked in both rural and urban settings.
I am current Clinical Director of Primary Care across Northland with a portfolio of women’s health and Youth Health. Previously I have held roles around Child Health and Long term conditions and currently lead the Stop Gout Program in Northland. I have been an active member of the Pacific Chapter currently Vice Chair of the Chapter. I have had previous Governance Experience within Health (Board Chair of a PHO), and Education (previous Chair for Kohanga Reo). As a result of doing a Fellowship in Leadership in Youth Health in 2011 based in the US and Canada I am passionate about strong leadership development for clinicians and having a strong training and development program led by a strong College in Aotearoa.
I would like to be part of strengthening the College Board as I see that it has a key role in advocating for our members and creating clear vision for its staff into the future. The College’s goal should be for a strong training program that is well regarded internationally for in its ability to be culturally appropriate in its delivery and assessment. My goals are future focussed and will be to have trainees assessed on group consultation, phone triage and virtual consults going forward. Also, a College that has the protocols and policies in place to be adaptable to the changing ways of working within primary care teams into the future.
My interests outside of medicine include watching lots of rugby and basketball during the winter for my sons and playing social basketball with my 17 yr old. I love music – I play several instruments and enjoy leading children and youth choirs. Painting is a way for me to have a point of view outside of my professional position. All of my passions have helped to bring me to this point of what is my current purpose and at present that is being a national Board member to help in creating a strong Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners into the future.