Rate My Professor Anita Samasoni

Anita Samasoni is the Programme Co-ordinator (Academic) at Va'a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health, within the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago. Located in Dunedin, she works from the centre at 71 Frederick Street. Her contact details include direct dial +64 3 556 5524 and email anita.samasoni@otago.ac.nz. Va'a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health provides a range of academic programmes and support for Pacific students across all University of Otago campuses and leads Pacific health teaching and research in the Division of Health Sciences. The centre is underpinned by the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework 2022-2030, which guides Pacific engagement across the university. Strategic leadership comes from the Takiala Pacific Health Leadership Network, comprising Associate Deans (Pacific) in the Division of Health Sciences, and it is led by Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga.

The centre addresses health matters important to Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific region. It supports Pacific health teaching through programmes such as the Pacific Immersion Programme for medical students in the Dunedin Tongan community, majoring in Pacific and Global Health within the Bachelor of Health Sciences, and health professional programmes with Pacific health content. Specific papers include PACH 201: Pacific Health: New Zealand and the Pacific Region and PACH 301: Pacific Health: Advanced Applied Knowledge. Postgraduate support is offered for doctors from Pacific Island countries like the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Niue, including papers in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice and Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound. Student support is provided through the Pacific Opportunities Programme at Otago (POPO), encompassing mentoring, internships, and scholarships to increase the Pacific health workforce. The team includes executive, operations, student support, teaching, and research staff focused on these initiatives.