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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 8493
Email
tai.sopoaga@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Professor, Director of Va’a o Tautai, Lecturer Dunedin School of Medicine
Qualifications
PhD FNZCPHM FRNZCGP MPH DPH MBChB
Research summary
Pacific health, the medical curriculum, Pacific health workforce, and equity

Research

Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai (Tai) Sopoaga leads Va’a o Tautai (VOT) – Centre for Pacific Health in the Division of Health Sciences.

She was born and raised in Samoa before moving to New Zealand to pursue tertiary studies. Faumuina is a public health physician and trained also as a GP. She was awarded the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to education and the Pacific community in 2022. She received the Prime Minister’s award for tertiary teaching excellence in 2018, including excellence in teaching award at the University of Otago, and endorsement for excellence in supporting Pacific learners, Ako Aotearoa.

Faumuina's work involves strengthening engagements with local, national, and regional Pacific communities seeking opportunities that have mutual benefits when engaging them in the work of the university in teaching, services and research. She was a Health Advisor to the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work in Samoa 2021-2023, and is current Heath Advisor to the Director General, Ministry of Health, Samoa. She is involved in leading efforts in response to regional disasters such as the Tsunami and measles in Samoa, and is a member of the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC), Scientific Technical Expert Group (STEG). She is also a member of the Pacific Expert Advisory Group to the NZ Ministry of Health, and involved in the local and national context to support efforts during Covid-19.

Faumuina leads the Va’a o Tautai ensuring its work is aligned with the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework. Faumuina’s research focuses on Pacific health, the medical curriculum, strengthening the Pacific health workforce and addressing equity issues in society. She is of Samoan descent.

Publications

Sopoaga, F., Nada-Raja, S., Leckie, T., Samaranayaka, A., & Covello, S. (2023). Mental health and well-being of first year Pacific students at a New Zealand university. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11, 365-381. doi: 10.4236/jss.2023.117026 Journal - Research Article

Sopoaga, F. (2023, May). Dare to be wise. Dare to succeed. Dare to care. Pacific aspirations in Aotearoa. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Inaugural Professorial Lecture]. Other Research Output

Tafuna'i, M., Turner, R. M., Richards, R., Sopoaga, F., & Walker, R. (2022). The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Samoans living in Auckland, New Zealand. Nephrology, 27(3), 248-259. doi: 10.1111/nep.13990 Journal - Research Article

Richards, R., Cockerell, F., Fagasoaia, K., Lameta, M., Weastell, B., Pereira-Moeono, L., & Sopo'aga, F. (2022, November). "Extra just got more extra": Leaning on Pacific values to lead our team through uncertainty. Verbal presentation at the COVID-19’s Impact on Teaching and Learning at the University of Otago: Lessons Learned Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Symon, V., Nada-Raja, S., Sopoaga, F., Sopoaga, L., Norris, P., Ruhe, T., Kokaua, J., Richards, R., … Isno, L., George, M., Iosua, E., & Keown, S. (2022, November). The show must go on: Research in a time of COVID. Verbal presentation at the COVID-19’s Impact on Teaching and Learning at the University of Otago: Lessons Learned Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

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