APIA: 12 Feb 2010: The Samoa based Oceania University of Medicine has launched a 5 year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Programme - MBBS. The Oceania University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Surindar Cheema, says this is taking a further step towards the University's goal of serving the national and regional interests in terms of health workforce needs.
"This is an historic event and a milestone for the University with 16 local students and one
overseas Samoan-born student having been accepted into the programme. OUM is keeping
true to its Mission Statement of helping the under served communities of the South Pacific by
offering scholarships, equating to over SAT$3.6 million, to the Samoan students," he says.
"In doing so, the severe doctor shortage in this country is being addressed head on and will
make a significant difference to the health care of Samoa in 2015 when the graduates begin
working as doctors in the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital."
The Deputy Dean of OUM, Associate Professor Dr Monalisa Punivalu explained that the
current 4 Year MD/MBBS program is a Graduate entry one in which an applicant needs to
have a Bachelors degree as the academic requirement.
“The new 5 Year MBBS program that is about to be launched is an undergraduate entry one
whereby the academic entry requirement is the NUS Foundation Science certificate or its
equivalents in other Pacific island countries. Both programs will be running concurrently.”
said Dr Punivalu.
“The 5 Year MBBS course therefore can attract a larger intake of Samoan students each year
to do medicine as compared to the 4 Year program. As OUM grows and in the near future we
hope to soon have an annual intake of at least 30 to 50 new students from Samoa, other
Pacific island nation states and also other overseas countries”. Dr Punivalu said.
The inaugural class of seventeen – an equitable ratio of eight females and nine males has
passed the stringent entry requirements which included assessment of NUS Foundation Year
scores, an admission test and a one-hour interview. It has been calculated that in five years,
these students will increase Samoa's physician workforce by close to 10%.
The successful applicants are Mareko Amitai, Rosanna Amosa, Raymond Laulu, Alison Mataia,
Nelson Meleisea, Tricia Neemia, Unmil Pathak, Kamara Pouono, Junior Posini, Esjae Sesega,
Valerie Sinei, Lillian Taulapapa, Tomasi Tofa, Chandler Tuilagi, Sopolemalama Tuitama,
Corleone Va’ai and Sirene Vagana.
Of particular significance, is the specially-named ‘Faleniu
Asaua Scholarship’ awarded to Nelson Meleisea. This scholarship is a tribute to the late Dr
Asaua who was born in Apolima and overcame adversity in the form of poverty, a lack of
education and general hardship.
Furthermore, after completing his medical training, he became the first Samoan to achieve New Zealand qualifications in pathology. As a medical professional, Dr Asaua continued to serve the community in Samoa in a number of roles
through the years but always with the dedication and determination he exhibited as a young adult.
“This is an exciting day for Samoa as we welcome the future doctors of this great nation,”
said the Director of the MBBS programme, Dr Greg Raymond.
“There is a diverse mix of characters among the scholarship group ranging from excellent
musicians and singers, rugby and volleyball players to elite athletes. Most students have
been active in community-based activities and groups which was also considered important
criteria for admission.”
Academically, the curriculum for the medical course is benchmarked to international
standards.
“Students will be provided the latest in international medical teaching practices and will be
exposed early to clinical aspects of medicine which current teaching trends support.
“Medical research is also a priority for the medical school and students will take part in
research ventures directed by the University Research Committee. Training students in
medical research and how to write medical journal papers is a skill that is necessary to
complete higher clinical training in their careers such as Master’s and Post-graduate studies.”
Meanwhile, OUM achieved a major milestone in its short history in December 2009 with the
award of ‘Candidate Status’ by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools Colleges and
Universities (PAASCU) which takes it closer to accreditation. Over the next 6 months OUM
will address the recommendations and re-invite PAASCU for a final visit in October with the
anticipation that accreditation will be a reality by year’s end.
Locally and internationally, OUM is continually improving its collaborations and partnerships
through links with the National University of Samoa and research links with other groups. The
Visiting Specialist programme and web-based live lecture programmes are being expanded.
The live lecture programmes feature a global network of clinical specialists delivering live
lectures using the latest in Internet teaching technology.
Dr Raymond said that third, fourth and fifth year medical students also contribute to the
overall clinical resources at a hospital by providing basic clinical services when properly
supervised and trained in basic procedures.
“In the past, medical students sent to the Fiji School of Medicine have completed all clinical
training in Fiji. OUM students will add desperately-needed resources to the national Samoan
health system as they complete all of their clinical training in Samoa.
Community Medicine is an important clinical focus for OUM and students will interact and
engage patients in the Community in rural clinics, local doctor clinics, outpatient clinics,
mobile clinics, and through the Public Health department of the government, said Dr
Raymond.
“The University is involved in a collaborative community-based screening project with the
Rotary Club and other community partners and students will play an important role in public
health and prevention programmes for patients located in rural and remote villages.
The planned teaching hospital will be a tremendous addition to the clinical programme and
these students will benefit from this teaching facility when they undertake clinical training in
three years time.
“Through its partnership with Oceania University of Medicine, the new teaching hospital will
attract and retain some of the best doctors in Samoa. It is not unrealistic to expect that
some of the best Samoan doctors will choose to stay and some of those who have left, will
return to Samoa,” said Professor Surindar Cheema.
The five-year MBBS programme was launched today at the Oceania University of Medicine by
the Prime Minister, Honourable Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, the OUM Council Chairman, Taffy
Gould (via Elluminate Live) and the OUM Vice Chancellor, Professor Surindar Cheema.
For further information, please contact the OUM Deputy Vice Chancellor, Moananu Tyrone
Laurenson at T: 30422 or E: tyrone.laurenson@oceaniamed.org