Rate My Professor Latika Samalia

Dr. Latika Samalia is a Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Otago, where she joined in 1993 following a clinical career in obstetrics and gynaecology. Originally from Fiji, she trained as a doctor and holds qualifications including PGDipSc (Otago) and DSM (Fiji). She teaches clinical anatomy across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including medical years 2, 3, and 5 (ELM 2, 3, 5), dental year 2, physiotherapy year 2, pharmacy year 4, ANAT 457 honours, Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy, and lectures for FRACS. Her teaching incorporates practical activities such as video instructions, mnemonics, classroom demonstrations, body painting, and ultrasound, with a focus on creating a friendly, fun, and empathetic learning environment. She provides individual support to students, particularly Pacific and Māori learners, through orientation sessions and one-on-one lab guidance, and runs postgraduate workshops for obstetrics and gynaecology clinicians and midwives, emphasizing the clinical anatomy of the pelvis.

Samalia's research interests centre on anatomy education equity, particularly for Pasifika students, exploring ethnic differences in academic stress, learning preferences, confidence, assessment preferences, visual attention to anatomical images, and the sustained impact of high school background on performance compared to New Zealand European students. She is a member of the Anatomical Sciences Education Research Team (ASERT), contributing to reproductive biology research. Key publications include 'Ethnic differences in academic stress and learning preferences in anatomy between Pasifika and Pākehā students' (AlterNative, 2026, with R.R. Prasad and E. Wibowo), 'The lived experience of Pasifika anatomy students living in Ōtepoti and studying at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka' (MAI Journal, 2025, with I.F. Fakapulia and E. Wibowo), 'The sustained association between high school background and academic performance of Pasifika and New Zealand European Anatomy students' (New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 2025, with S.F. Uhi and E. Wibowo), 'Differences in academic confidence, assessment preferences, and perception of anatomy learning' (New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 2025, with W.S. Time et al.), and 'Comparison of visual attention to anatomical images' (Medical Science Educator, 2025, with I.F. Fakapulia et al.). In 2021, she received the Ako Aotearoa Prime Minister's Supreme Award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, alongside awards for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching and Excellence in Supporting Pacific Learners. She serves on committees including CARG, TMC, Body Team, Otago Pacific Academic Caucus, Pacific Island support in Otago Medical School, PIRSSU, PASC, and OSMS Pacific Strategic Framework Group, enhancing support for Pacific health professional education.