South Auckland GP, Dr Maryann Heather (BHB, MBChB), is happy working behind the scenes to help and serve the Pacific community.
But as a new board member of the Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) Membership Board, she will be in a more visible leadership role and it is a position she will embrace to inspire others who may not see themselves as front of house leaders.
“Sometimes we are not comfortable in these positions and we are not as vocal or confident,” says Dr Heather, who is based at the South Seas Healthcare Clinic in Otara.
“But being in this space allows me to have a voice, as a Pacific woman, as a general practitioner, as an academic, with all of the different hats I wear, to provide experience and some direction.”
Dr Heather joins the PMA Membership Board that supports a network of more than 3,000 Pacific health professionals. Other board members include Chair Dr Jitoko Cama (FRACS), Dr Kiki Maoate (ONZM, FRACS), Dr Lupe Taumoepeau (FRACS), Mr Abel Smith and Dr Elizabeth Dunn (MBChB, FANZCA) who is also new to the board.
The PMA members are based all over the Pacific and include specialist level doctors, student doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, community health workers and our vast non-clinical workforce. Their aim is to work collaboratively to strengthen the Pacific health workforce and meet the health needs of Pacific people in New Zealand and the Pacific region.
Dr Heather says that while she was training to be a doctor, there were few Pacific mentors in the medical profession. She says for today’s students, they have a wealth of experience around them including the combined members of the PMA.
“The number of senior health professionals are rising and we should look after the ones that are coming through, not only through the universities but also through the hospitals and the different health organisations that they may work in.
It’s great for them to have that support and letting them know that they have this network around them.”
Dr Heather is Samoan and holds medical qualifications from the University of Otago and the University of Auckland, where she currently lectures in Pacific Health. She has a range of work experience in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, American Samoa and China.
She encourages all Pacific medical students and health professionals to become members of the PMA to gain valuable contacts and be given advice from mentors, just like her.
“If medicine is your passion, then you should pursue it. It doesn’t matter how long it takes or how many barriers you may encounter along the way.”
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Date: Friday 30 April 2021