Sam (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a Professional Practice Fellow in the Bachelor of Oral Health programme within the Faculty of Dentistry. He completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health endorsed in Social Research methods end of 2017 and is now enrolled in a Master of Public Health (MPH) within the NTMHRU with Dr Emma Wyeth, Professor Pauline Norris and Associate Professor Patricia Priest as his supervisors.
Sam's MPH aims to qualitatively explore Māori understandings of antimicrobial resistance using a One Health approach. Infectious diseases contribute a significant public health burden in Aotearoa, with Māori suffering proportionally worse health outcomes compared to non-Māori. Researchers are increasingly using a 'One Health' approach that incorporates human, animal and environment health to tackle the complexities of antimicrobial resistance. It is hoped Sam's MPH will contribute towards better understanding Māori views on antimicrobial resistance in relation to human, animal and environment health.
In his spare time Sam is the Vice President of the New Zealand Dental Hygienists' Association, Executive Member of Te Aō Marama (New Zealand Māori Dental Association) and Board Member of the New Zealand Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association. He is also the Deputy Associate Dean (Māori) and Pacific Student Support Staff Member for the Pacific Islands Research and Student Support Unit for the Faculty of Dentistry.
