|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the June edition of the Overseas Development and Education Committee (ODEC) eNewsletter!
In this issue, we’re excited to highlight some of the inspiring activities our members have undertaken over the past few months. These initiatives reflect the dedication and passion within our community, and we’re always eager to share them with our wider membership.
We remain deeply grateful for the ongoing support provided by the ASA, which continues to empower and enable the work we do.
Dr Justin Burke & Dr Meg Walmsey
Chair & Co-Chair, ASA ODEC Committee
|
|
|
|
|
Essential Pain Management (EPM) in Fiji 5-9 May 2025
|
|
|
|
Moira Rush shares the experience she and Nicole Gauthier had recently, delivering EPM Lite, a half day pain management workshop, to two groups of nursing staff at The Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report from the ASEAPS Pain Camp and the 10th ASEAN Pain Congress 2 - 4 May 2025 Singapore
|
Emily Fuakilau, Anaesthetist from Labasa Hospital Fiji has provided a report on her experience attending both the Pain Camp and Congress, thanking the ASA, APS and ANZCA for the financial support. In her report, Emily states “It has gifted me with a community of support that I no longer feel alone and hopeless. I hope to be able to continue to advocate for pain management at a local and national level”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leadership in Anaesthesia Course 19 May 2025 Honiara, Solomon Islands
Following discussions about Leadership issues at the Pacific Society of Anaesthetists ASM in Pacific Harbour in late 2024, a direct request was made by Dr Delwyn Pitakoe for a Leadership in Anaesthesia Course to be run in the Solomon Islands in 2025. Here is Dr Chris Bowden’s report.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solomon Islands Anaesthesia Training Centre
|
In May 2025, ASA members Phil Blum, Anna West, Chris Bowden and Meg Walmsley were invited to Honiara to run an obstetric anaesthesia refresher for the 8 anaesthesia registrars currently working in the country.
This is the 8th registrar training visit to be run by ODEC. The Solomon Islands has 4 anaesthesia consultants for a country with a population of close to 800 000. This means most teaching occurs in an informal setting in the operating theatre.
Teaching consisted of case discussions, tutorials and simulation sessions. One registrar said: ‘The refresher training helps to maintain my confidence. I have never been through any formal training for anaesthesia. After the training I am able to apply the skills in real practice’
The team has been invited to return in 2026.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASA Seruvatu Medal Winner Dr Una Gagahe, Solomon Islands
|
In 2024, Dr Una Gagahe was awarded the ODEC sponsored Seruvatu medal for the highest mark in the Fiji National University Post Graduate Diploma of Anaesthesia. He is the first Solomon Islander to be awarded this honour.
We asked Una to describe his pathway to anaesthesia training. He says:
My name is Nignauna (Una) Jurgens Gagahe. I am from the Solomon Islands specifically from the Western and Isabel Provinces but was born and spent most of my years within the capital of Honiara.
Medicine was not my initial career choice. After high school I went to Flinders University to do Computer engineering which I could not complete due to multiple reasons. I was fortunate enough to have won a scholarship to do medicine in Cuba where I spent 6 and half years learning medicine all in Spanish. I then returned and did my 2 and half years of internship at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara. It was during this internship that I had my first exposure to anaesthesia and developed a subsequent keen interest.
Fortunately, I joined the department at the end of my internship where I spent a total of 7 years as an in-service registrar, including 2 years as the only anaesthetic provider at Gizo provincial hospital.
In 2024, I completed my Postgraduate diploma in Anaesthesia at FNU, Suva. I am currently, continuing as a first year’s master’s candidate and plan to return to the Solomon Islands in 2028 as the 5th consultant anaesthetist for the country.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025 Pacific Society of Anaesthetists Annual Refresher Course
|
The Pacific Society of Anaesthetists (PSA) Annual Refresher Course will be held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji from August 18- 22, 2025.
This years theme is ‘Sustainability and Anaesthesia in the Pacific’.
Each Pacific Island country will also provide an update of the current state of anaesthesia in their country.
|
|
|
For more information about PSA and registration please click here
|
|
|
Pacific Fellowships
|
Dr Andrew Downey provides an update on our 2025 recipients of the fellowship, at Colonial War memorial Hospital, Suva Fiji. Recipients of the fellowship include; Dr Caydee Pollock (Queensland), Dr Andrew Growse (Victoria) and Dr Dominic Johnpillai (Northern Territory & New Zealand).
The Pacific Fellowship provides ASA and NZSA members the opportunity to work and teach overseas with the aim of supporting anaesthesia training in the Pacific. The program has run for over 20 years in a successful partnership with the Fiji National University (FNU). Fellows are based at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, for a minimum period of three (3) months undertaking teaching and clinical supervision of trainees enrolled in the FNU Anaesthesia Diploma and Masters programs. The Fellowship is an initiative of the ASA Overseas Development and Education Committee (ODEC).
|
|
To read more about the 2025 Pacific Fellowships please click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bronchoscopes for Samoa
|
In 2024, the Anaesthesia Department in Samoa reached out to ODEC with a request for a disposable bronchoscope. At the time of the request, there was no working bronchoscope in the country. AMBU were able to work with ODEC to provide a screen and scopes. These have now been used for a number of difficult airways.
Pictured are Samoan anaesthetists Dr Mua Arasi and Dr Cecilia Vaai-Bartley with ODEC members Dr Justin Burke, Dr Meg Walmsley and Dr Chris Bowden.
|
|
|
|
Timor Fellowship by Alison Jarman
|
This July, I will begin a fellowship at Guido Valadares National Hospital in Dili, Timor-Leste—marking the first ODEC-supported visit since well before the pandemic. It promises to be a steep learning curve as I navigate a complex, multilingual healthcare environment with different patient expectations and teaching practices.
My goal is to cultivate a culture of co-learning—one where knowledge flows in both directions. I will have a lot to learn from the deep clinical experience and unique insights of local anaesthetic practitioners. My contribution will include clinical teaching with registrars in the operating theatre, as well as running simulation-based and structured educational sessions. A particular focus will be supporting trainees preparing for the Anaesthesia Diploma and Master’s programs at Fiji National University.
Where possible, I hope to contribute to consultant development through peer teaching and reflective practice around evolving standards of care. Above all, my hope is to build lasting, collaborative relationships with the pioneering anaesthetists leading the profession in Timor-Leste—laying a strong foundation for the fellowship’s future.
|
|
|
ASA National Scientific Congress (NSC) 2025
|
The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) is thrilled to announce that the 2025 National Scientific Congress (NSC) will take place from Thursday, October 2 to Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, Australia.
With the theme “Come Together,” this event promises a dynamic blend of scientific innovation, networking, and social activities.
The 2025 NSC will offer a comprehensive scientific program featuring plenaries, masterclasses, workshops, and practical evaluations led by internationally renowned experts Professor Tim Cook, Professor Cynthia Wong, Professor Edward Mariano and Professor Alicia Dennis.
The ODEC session will be held on Friday October 3 from 1330- 1500. The speakers are Drs Eunice Onisimo from Fiji, Dr Delwyn Pitakoe from the Solomon Islands and Dr Nora Dai from PNG. Don't miss the opportunity to hear from these 3 amazing Pacific anaesthetists.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We look forward to sharing news and highlights from other initiatives supported by ASA ODEC in our next newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
