The National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) is playing a leading role in the training and development of modern orthopaedic surgical care in the Pacific Islands.

The N.U.S. has taken on the role in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Orthopedic Association (PIOA), which was formed in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and now has a presence in all Pacific Island nations, according to a press release issued on Wednesday by the university.

PIOA President Dr. Shaun Mauiliu said their training program comprises blocks of three weeks and weekly training sessions through Zoom.

“The program runs live in blocks for 3 weeks twice and year and runs weekly sessions via Zoom. Supervisory visits to trainees are also carried out by visiting teams," he said. 

"The main benefit of this training over the last 10 years is that we have revolutionised how training is done in the Pacific by training doctors in their own country, so we don’t lose our workforce. 

"This helps each of our trainees to identify the needs in their country and advocate for how they can improve the delivery of orthopedic services."

As part of the association's program, Dr. Mauiliu said they offer their trainees mentoring programs as well as assist with implants and equipment in order to deliver proper orthopedic care.

The PIOA now has trainees from nine Pacific Island countries including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Timor Leste, and Vanuatu.

In 2018 the N.U.S. signed an MOU with PIOA to deliver the Master of Surgery (Orthopedics) in partnership with the university's School of Medicine. To date there have been seven graduates of the program with two from Samoa, three from the Solomon Islands, and two from Fiji. A further 24 students are currently enrolled in various stages of the program.

At the completion of all modules, trainees sit an exit exam modeled on the FRACS exit exam with examiners from Australia and New Zealand alongside PIOA graduates who are being trained as examiners.

At the N.U.S. graduation last month, the program celebrated the passing out of two students Dr. Areta Samuelu (Samoa) and Pita Sovanivalu (Fiji). Dr. Mauiliu and the PIOA secretary, lecturer, and founder Dr. Des Soares witnessed their graduation.