We are delighted to welcome three new members to our Pacific Leadership Team. Drs Agnew, Liva and Watkins bring a range of skills, knowledge and experience that will be invaluable in helping us to improve heart health equity for Pacific Peoples.

Dr Joshua Agnew

I work at Tauranga Hospital as a Paediatrician. My interests and areas of expertise are in Māori and Pasifika health, cardiology, simulation education, quality improvement and research. I am a proud Aotearoa born Cook Islander, and whilst my primary work is here in Aotearoa, I also work closely to support the Te Marae Ora Paediatric team in the Cook Islands.

Dr Simone Watkins

I am a paediatric doctor of Pasifika descent living in Auckland, New Zealand. I was awarded a Chancellor's Award for Top Māori and Pacific Scholar by the University of Auckland and Pacific Health Workforce Awards in 2007 – 2010 to undertake a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. I graduated from my medical studies with distinction in 2011.

I have been working in Paediatrics since 2013 but took a career break to complete my PhD at the Liggins Institute, funded by an HRC Pacific Clinical Fellowship grant investigating why outcomes differ by ethnicity in critical congenital heart disease in New Zealand.

Dr Monica Leva

Malo le soifua/Fakaalofa lahi atu, my name is Dr Monica Liva.
I was born and raised in Mangere and still live in Mangere. My father is Samoan, from Malie.
My mother is Niuean from Vaea/Avatele. I come from a blended family and have 5 siblings.
I have 4 young children aged 5, 7, 9 and 13 years. We have a Chinese Sharpei named Katsu.

I graduated from medical school in 2006. I have been a GP for 14 years and completed my GP Fellowship training in 2014. I currently work at Turuki Health Care in Mangere, a clinic that serves predominantly Maori and Pasifika whanau. I am also the current Chair of the Pasifika GP Chapter that sits within the Royal NZ College of GPs.

There is a well-known Samoan proverb that says, “O le ala i le pule ole tautua - the pathway to leadership is through service”. That is how I lead.

Fa’afetai tele lava/Fakaaue lahi/Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Pasifika leadership group of Pūtahi Manawa.