Alec Ekeroma

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Ekeroma in 2022

Aiono Alec Joseph Ekeroma ONZM (born c. 1958)[1] is a Samoan physician, academic, and civil servant. He was the first Pacific academic to hold a professorial role in a specialised area of medicine in New Zealand. He helped establish the National University of Samoa's medical school, and currently serves as the university's vice-chancellor.

Education and academic career[edit]

Ekeroma was educated at St. Joseph's College in Lotopa before studying medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea.[2] He subsequently graduated with an MBA from Keele University in the United Kingdom.[3] He moved to New Zealand in 1988 for specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.[1] He subsequently taught at the University of Auckland medical school for 22 years.[4] In 2001 he founded the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health, and in 2015 founded the Pacific Journal of Reproductive Health.[5] In 2017 he completed a PhD at the University of Auckland with a doctoral thesis titled The impact of a health research workshop and other interventions on Pacific Island clinicians’ research productivity.[6] He was subsequently appointed as Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Wellington School of Medicine, becoming the first pacific academic to hold such a role.[7]

In 2014 he helped develop the curriculum for the National University of Samoa's new school of medicine, and in 2018 he was appointed its founding professor.[4] In October 2019 following the resignation of Fui Asofou So'o he was appointed vice-chancellor.[2][3][8] In July 2021, he was reappointed a University of Otago Honorary Professor.[9]

Public service career[edit]

In November 2022 he was appointed chief executive of the Samoan Ministry of Health.[10]

Recognition[edit]

In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ekeroma was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health and the Pacific community.[11][12]

In 2009 he was bestowed with the Aiono title from Fasito'o Uta, but this was challenged before the land and Titles Court of Samoa. The title was formally bestowed again in August 2020 once the challenge had been resolved.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Aiono Professor Dr Alec Ekeroma (ONZM): 40 years of nurturing medical professionals". Pasifika Medical Association. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma is new VC for NUS". Talanei. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "NZ academic to head Samoa's National University". RNZ. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b Elizabeth Ah-Hi (13 April 2018). "National University of Samoa welcomes new Medical Professor". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours 2020 – Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. ^ Ekeroma, Alec (2016). The impact of a health research workshop and other interventions on Pacific Island clinicians' research productivity (Doctoral thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland. hdl:2292/31075.
  7. ^ "Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma". South Seas Healthcare. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  8. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T – Ah Tong (10 October 2019). "Professor Aiono is the new N.U.S. Vice Chancellor". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  9. ^ Marc Membrere (23 July 2021). "Aiono re-appointed a Honorary Professor". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ^ Shalveen Chand (30 November 2022). "Former N.U.S. boss is Health C.E.O." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2020". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  12. ^ Vaelei Von Dincklage (3 June 2021). "Professor Aiono hopes Queen's award inspires students". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  13. ^ Maina Vai (1 September 2020). "NUS Vice Chancellor Bestowed One of Four Aiono Titles". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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