1. Where are you from, what is your role, and where do you work? 

I am from Fiji and serve as the Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital. Alongside this role, I am a family physician and the owner of a private general practice, where I continue to provide comprehensive clinical care. I also serve as an Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at the Fiji National University, where I am privileged to teach and mentor future generations of doctors. Balancing clinical practice, medical education, and healthcare leadership allows me to contribute to improving health outcomes at multiple levels. 

2. What are you passionate about and why? 

I am deeply passionate about advancing paediatric cardiac care in Fiji and across the Pacific. Congenital heart disease remains one of the leading birth defects worldwide, and many children in our region continue to face significant barriers to accessing timely diagnosis and life-saving treatment. As a result, too many children either lose their lives or live with preventable disability. 

The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital is transforming this landscape by providing world-class paediatric cardiac care completely free of charge to children from Fiji and the Pacific Islands. Being part of this mission is an immense privilege. There is no greater reward than seeing a child who once had little hope return home healthy and able to enjoy a full and active life. 

3. You are scheduled to speak on the Services Panel. What are you most looking forward to discussing or sharing at the conference? 

I am looking forward to sharing the extraordinary journey of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital over the past four years and the profound impact it has had on thousands of children and families across the Pacific. 

The hospital represents a unique model of healthcare delivery. It was established entirely through the efforts of a non-governmental organisation, without funding from governments, aid agencies, or corporate sponsors, with a singular mission, to serve every child regardless of their ability to pay. There is no billing counter, and every consultation, investigation, cardiac procedure, surgery, and follow-up service is provided completely free of charge. 

I hope our story will demonstrate what is possible when visionary leadership, compassion, collaboration, and selfless service come together to address one of the region’s greatest unmet healthcare needs. 

4. What advice or inspiration would you give to people who are looking to pursue a similar career? 

Believe in yourself and never allow others to define the limits of what you can achieve. It is possible to build a career that is both professionally fulfilling and deeply meaningful. 

I have been fortunate to pursue several passions simultaneously; as a clinician, educator, and healthcare leader and each role enriches the others. Caring for patients keeps me grounded, teaching challenges me to continually learn and grow, and leading a purpose driven organisation allows me to help create lasting change. 

My advice is to pursue excellence in everything you do, remain humble, embrace lifelong learning, and always lead with compassion. Success is not measured solely by personal achievement, but by the positive impact you have on the lives of others. With dedication, integrity, perseverance, and selfless service, you can accomplish far more than you ever imagined. 

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The PMA Conference will be hosted in Auckland from 5-7 August. For more information and to register, visit the website here.