A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Tungaru Central Hospital, Dr Tiaon also serves as Deputy Director of Hospital Services, a responsibility she has held since the end of 2024.
A wife and mother as well as a health professional, Dr Tiaon is passionate about improving maternal and reproductive health services for women and families in Kiribati.
With support from the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS), Dr Tiaon will attend the PSRH Conference in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from 12–18 September.
She says the opportunity is a privilege, particularly given the financial and logistical barriers that can prevent health professionals from smaller Pacific Island countries from attending international conferences.
“I intend to make the most of it by learning as much as I can and bringing that knowledge back to Kiribati,” she says.
Strengthening skills where they are needed most
One of the highlights of the conference for Dr Tiaon will be a two-day Pacific Ultrasound Scanning workshop, which will strengthen her skills in performing obstetric ultrasounds.
For Kiribati, the practical application of this training could be significant.
Dr Tiaon says having the ability to perform obstetric scans herself will be particularly valuable when a sonographer or scan technician is unavailable — including during emergencies, after hours or when a timely assessment is required.
The training will therefore not only strengthen her individual clinical skills but also support more timely obstetric assessments for women in Kiribati.
Alongside the practical workshop, Dr Tiaon is looking forward to the conference’s scientific programme and the opportunity to learn about new research, evidence and approaches in obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive health.
She plans to consider how this knowledge can be adapted to Kiribati’s local context and incorporated into clinical protocols, guidelines and everyday practice.
Sharing knowledge beyond the conference
For Dr Tiaon, the value of the opportunity extends well beyond what she personally learns in Tonga.
By sharing what she learns, Dr Tiaon hopes the benefits of the conference will reach beyond her own practice and contribute to improving the quality of obstetric and gynaecological services across the country.
She sees the support provided by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and NZMTS in the same way — not simply as an investment in one health professional, but as an investment in the wider health system and the communities she serves.
“I hope to bring the knowledge and skills gained from the conference directly back into my clinical work and into the wider health system in Kiribati,” she says.
Investing in the Pacific workforce
Dr Tiaon’s experience reflects the wider purpose of opportunities such as the PSRH Conference: strengthening Pacific health professionals so they can take knowledge, skills and connections back to their own communities.
She says opportunities to participate in international conferences are not always accessible to health professionals from smaller Pacific nations, making regional support particularly important.
“I see this support not only as an opportunity for my own professional development, but also as an investment in the women, families and health workers I serve in Kiribati,” she says.
The commitment is clear — to make the most of the opportunity, share what she learns, and apply it to improving women’s health in Kiribati.
“I sincerely thank NZMTS and PMA for their support and for giving me this valuable opportunity to learn, connect and contribute to improving women's health in the Pacific.”
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Supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and coordinated by the Pasifika Medical Association Group, the NZMTS remains dedicated to building resilient health systems and strengthening specialist capability across the Pacific region. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Government.
