The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has honoured 13 outstanding Pacific health leaders and advocates with Life Member and Service Awards and President’s Medals, recognising decades of service, leadership and commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific communities.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Conference officially opened today, bringing together Pacific health leaders, clinicians, researchers and emerging professionals to celebrate 30 years of service under the theme, "The Pathway to Leadership is Service."

Pacific health leaders, clinicians, researchers and advocates from across Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region are gathering in Auckland this week for the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) 2026 Conference, marking 30 years of service, innovation and excellence in Pacific health.

Strong partnerships built on trust, honesty and shared purpose, are at the heart of creating lasting health outcomes across the Pacific. This was the key message from the opening panel of the Global Health Symposium, held as part of the PMA Conference, where leaders reflected on what it takes to work together for greater impact under the theme Making impact – Measuring Value: Partner reflections and way forward – Working together for better health outcomes.

Dr Rochelle Nafatali will be presenting at the PMA Conference on a Pacific-led framework supporting autistic children and their families in Aotearoa, drawing on indigenous knowledge and lived experiences to strengthen culturally grounded care and community inclusion.

Emergency physician and international health leader Dr Jack Lu is dedicated to strengthening emergency care systems through collaboration, innovation and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Dr Shannon Fulton is an applied epidemiologist and public health researcher passionate about improving health equity through community-led research. At PMA Conference, he will present findings from a study examining type 2 diabetes risk factors among Pacific and Māori youth in Auckland, highlighting the importance of early prevention and culturally grounded models of care.

A leading genomics researcher based in Australia, Professor Lyn Griffiths AM is dedicated to advancing research that improves the diagnosis and treatment of long-term health conditions for Pasifika communities in Australia. She will be presenting at our upcoming PMA Conference.

Passionate about women's health and cancer care, Dr Michael Burling believes every woman deserves access to quality healthcare, no matter where they are born or live.

Dr Krupali Tappoo is the Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, a family physician, and an Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at Fiji National University. Through healthcare leadership, clinical practice and medical education, she is committed to improving health outcomes across the Pacific. Dr Krupali will be joining us as a panelist at this year’s PMA Conference.

Paediatrician Dr Joshua Agnew, of Cook Islands descent, currently works in Tauranga Hospital with a passion for heart health, as well as Māori and Pacific health. As part of his roles within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, he will be presenting at the upcoming Pasifika Medical Association Conference.

Dr Keresoma Leaupepe is a passionate advocate for Pacific-led research focused on preventing non-communicable diseases across Samoa and the wider Pacific. His presentation explores how changing food imports have shaped dietary patterns in Samoa and what this means for creating healthier food environments and reducing the burden of NCDs.