Pacific dean in health sciences

Dr Faafetai Sopoaga has been appointed as the first associate dean, Pacific, in the University of Otago's health sciences division.

The new role involves co-ordinating efforts to support current and prospective Pacific students seeking to enter the health workforce.

She will also continue her previous duties as a senior lecturer in Pacific health in the preventive and social medicine department at the university's Dunedin School of Medicine.

Dr Sopoaga said the university had a unique opportunity to improve the health of Pacific peoples in several ways, including by increasing the number of Pacific health professionals and improving the understanding of all health professionals about Pacific health.