Research Fellow
Research interests
Dr Faatoese's research explores cardiovascular risk among Pasifika populations. Her teaching to medical students focusses on effective engagement and communication with Pacific patients and families.
Background
Dr Faatoese joined the Christchurch Heart Institute as a research assistant for the Hauora Manawa / Community Heart Study and then undertook her doctoral studies that focussed on cardiovascular risk profiles of Māori and non-Māori communities. This research explored the potential of novel biomarkers to stratify cardiovascular risk among Maori who bear a greater burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Leveraging from this foundation, Dr Faatoese leads the Pasifika Heart Study, a Pacific Island cohort from the Christchurch community in collaboration with a Pacific primary care clinic. Her biomarker research on cardiovascular risk factors includes circulating markers, genetics, and epigenetics.
Dr Faatoese is the Convenor of the Pacific Health teaching in the medical curriculum and is the Chair of the Pacific Health Teaching Sub-Committee.
Dr Faatoese is also the Associate Dean Pacific (Strategic) for the University of Otago, School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin. This role is to advocate for the pathways to success for Pacific students and building capacity and capability of Pacific academic staff within the faculty.