The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Knowledge Hub Microcredential Recognition Ceremony, held on July 17th, celebrated the accomplishments of the Semester 1, 2024 cohort who successfully completed the 'Improving Wellbeing Outcomes for Pacific Families' course developed in partnership with the University of Auckland.

It was a poignant time of celebration and reflection when I attended the Tonga Medical Association Conference celebrating their 80th Anniversary in July. It was an excellent presentation of history, progress, success and forward thinking approach to the future.

Dr. Veisinia Matoto holds the roles of Clinical Director and Country Liaison for Tonga at the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), in addition to serving as the President of the Tonga Medical Association (TMA). To commemorate the 80th Conference anniversary of TMA, she takes the opportunity to share her reflections on her medical journey and the significance of TMA.

The Tonga Medical Association (TMA), the oldest non-governmental organization (NGO) in Tonga, will be celebrating its 80th Anniversary and upcoming annual conference this week. This momentous occasion celebrates the rich history, notable achievements, and ongoing commitment of TMA to the medical profession and the people of Tonga.

The Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) fourth annual Charity Ball will take place on Friday, 18 August 2023 at the Cordis in Auckland. Following on from the 2022 event, which oversaw the fundraising of over $155,00.00, all proceeds from the event will go towards the PMA Education Fund and the various scholarships that the fund supports.

Last night the ‘Pacific Transnational Leaders Panel’ event brought together distinguished figures in the Pacific region to discuss the highlights and challenges of Pacific regionalism. Held at the University of Auckland, the event provided a platform for key speakers to share their insights and reflections on leadership in the Pacific region.

Dr Melbourne Mauiliu-Wallis, GP and doctoral candidate, presented on her abstract at the 2022 PMA Conference; her research looked at exploring barriers, enablers and lived experiences of Pacific female doctors with pursuing a career in surgery within New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Region. We caught up with Dr Mauiliu-Wallis to hear more about her study and her experience at the Conference last year.

Recently the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) hosted a Pacific Health Day for their Pasifika Chapter; their last Pacific Health Day was held in 2019. The purpose of the event is to bring together Pacific GPs and medical students to connect, network, and provide support for both Pacific GPs and those aspiring to work in General Practice.

The Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) fourth annual Charity Ball is set to take place on Friday 18 August 2023 at the Cordis in Auckland. As one of PMA’s major calendar events, the ball will raise funds for PMA’s Education Fund, which are distributed through a variety of scholarships.

Amio Matenga Ikihele, General Manager – Community & Innovations for Moana Connect, presented on their DIGIFALE Programme at last year's PMA Conference held in Wellington. We connected with Amio to hear some of her reflections:

Dr Jemaima Tiatia and Dr Fiona Langridge presented on their abstract 'Investigating Mental Wellbeing And Climate Change: Privileging Pacific Peoples’ Perspectives' at last year's PMA Conference.

Lefaoali'i Dr Dion Enari and Lisa Viliamu Jameson presented on their abstract "Climate Justice: a Pacific Island perspective" at last year's PMA Conference. We connected with Dr Enari to hear some of his reflections: