Senior Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member Dr Florina Chan Mow was recognised this week for her leadership and teaching prowess from the University of Auckland’s School of Medicine.
Dr Chan Mow received a Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award which acknowledges healthcare professionals who have shown hard work and dedication in teaching the next generation of doctors.
“Receiving this award has been very humbling for me,” Dr Chan Mow said after the awards ceremony held at the University of Auckland’s School of Medicine. “I’ve grown into being a teacher because my students have taught me that it’s a privilege to tutor them and guide them on their journey.”
Dr Chan Mow has studied at medical schools in the US, Auckland and Dunedin and trained as a house surgeon in Waikato. She is a senior doctor at Kidz First Hospital in Middlemore and a founding member of South Seas Healthcare in Otara. She has been teaching medical students throughout her career in paediatrics.
During her acceptance speech, she acknowledged her parents, her culture, and her upbringing in Samoa.
“My parents taught me that education is a treasure, a gift to share and to give to others. They also taught me to give my best in everything that I do.”
In her work, Dr Chan Mow consistently demonstrates culturally responsive approaches through her daily interactions with Whānau and aiga and is a leader in improving health literacy skills with medical, nursing and support staff at Kidz First Hospital.
Professor Cameron Grant, who is the head of paediatrics at the University of Auckland, says Dr Chan Mow is a highly respected colleague and is a valuable cultural resource in the medical profession.
Professor Grant commented that, “She is a wonderful communicator and just sets an outstanding example of the importance of communicating and acknowledging the extended family. She’s an expert in health literacy, ensuring that families understand what issues their children are facing.”
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Date: Friday 12 February 2021