Cure Kids Project Funding
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu.
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu was awarded a Cure Kids Project Grant that will fund a Rheumatic Fever related project titled: "Towards a New Penicillin for Rheumatic Fever Prevention and Treatment" and has been approved for NZC$599,456.00. This laboratory-based work will build on previous Rheumatic Fever related research studies led by Dr Sika-Paotonu who is based in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine and Dean's Department at University of Otago Wellington and will contribute to global efforts to make a more acceptable and less painful form of Penicillin by exploring different chemical forms that are better suited for Rheumatic Fever prevention. The most appropriate Penicillin G containing candidates will be identified for further drug development and will be undertaken in collaboration with the Ferrier Research Institute based at Victoria University of Wellington. This work is also supported by Māori and Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific Region. Cure Kids is New Zealand's largest funder of child health research outside government that works on raising funds for research that can help to improve the lives of the children that live with an illness. Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu is one of six research programmes of this type that will be receiving Cure Kids funding, working on a novel drug development pathway, in search of different chemical forms of penicillin that might yield new options for preventing rheumatic heart disease.
Read more about the Cure Kids research funding
University of Otago Wellington Dean and Head of Campus' End of Year Forum and Staff Awards
On the 21 December 2020, the University of Otago Wellington Dean and Head of Campus hosted the End of Year Forum and Staff Awards. The Tuia Tangata Award was awarded to the University of Otago Wellington Associate Dean (Pacific) and Senior Lecturer, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu. This is an award for outstanding contribution to/leadership in diversity, inclusion and participation at the University of Otago Wellington and also acknowledges efforts to unify and bring people together. Congratulations to all our University of Otago Wellington staff winners!
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Professor Michael Baker, Professor William Levack, Ms Selafi Tagi and Ms Jessica Vaimoli.
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Professor Michael Baker, Ms Sepola Faavae, Ms Selafi Tagi and Ms Jessica Vaimoli.
University of Otago Wellington Pacific Health Teaching at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand
The University of Otago Wellington medical student cohorts have been visiting Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of Aotearoa New Zealand as part of their training for the Pacific Health components of their respective curricula. A collaboration between the University of Otago Wellington and Senior Pacific Curators and Te Papa Tongarewa staff have enabled this partnership to progress and help support achievement of specific Pacific Health learning outcomes needed for our medical students. The University of Otago Wellington staff and students are indeed grateful for the time and expertise that has been afforded these efforts and look forward to developing further links and collaboration opportunities.
University of Otago Wellington students at Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Ngā tohu kotahitanga (Treaty of Waitangi: Signs of a Nation) at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.
PUBH 739 (Special Topic: Introduction to Pacific Public Health) University of Otago Wellington Block Day
The PUBH 739 Special Topic Introduction to Pacific Public Health Postgraduate course, held its inaugural block day at the University of Otago Wellington, formally welcoming the students on 3rd September 2020. Taught by Dr Viliami Puloka and supported by Mr Brad Watson and colleagues in 2020, classes were held in the Small Lecture Theatre at the University of Otago Wellington, with attendance in person and via Zoom. Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu Associate Dean (Pacific) at University of Otago Wellington was present to welcome the students and staff, with Professor Louise Signal current University of Otago Wellington Head of Department for Public Health also in attendance. It is anticipated that this will become a regular Postgraduate Special Topic for the Public Health team at University of Otago Wellington.
Dr Viliami Puloka, Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Professor Louise Signal and Mr Brad Watson.
University of Otago Wellington Pacific Office End of Year Lunch
The University of Otago Wellington Pacific Office hosted an End of Year Lunch held on 29 October 2020, to round off a busy year. This provided time for the University of Otago Wellington Pacific staff and students to come together catch-up and fellowship and farewell each other. The University of Otago Wellington Pacific Office End of Year Lunch was also attended by the University of Otago Wellington Dean and Head of Campus, Professor William Levack who spent the afternoon meeting and catching up with our Pacific students. Students who attended included those studying medicine, radiation therapy, physiotherapy and postgraduate qualifications such as Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters and PhDs.
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University of Otago Wellington Dean and Head of Campus, Professor William Levack with Pacific Staff and Students.
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu awarded Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Award
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu is Associate Dean (Pacific) and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Otago Wellington. Dr Sika-Paotonu was awarded a Fulbright New Zealand Scholars Award. She was formally presented with the award in person at the Fulbright Awards evening held at Parliament on 5 August 2020. The Awards evening was hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon. Winston Peters with US Charge D'Affaires Kevin Covert in attendance, and Professor Harlene Hayne Chair of the Fulbright NZ Board who emceed the event. Dr Sika-Paotonu plans to travel to Harvard University and the University of Oklahoma where she will continue to research acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, conditions which disproportionately affect indigenous people in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific region. She will also continue her work supporting the development of a blood test to identify circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), which could enable cancer to be detected at an earlier stage. Dr Sika-Paotonu is one of eight academics from six New Zealand universities and research institutions to be selected in the 2020 round.
University of Otago Wellington Dean and Head of Campus, Professor William Levack with Pacific Staff and Students.
University of Otago Hui Whakanui Tauira Awards Celebration
Our University of Otago Wellington students celebrated the end of an unprecedented year at our campus' award ceremony. We wish to congratulate all UOW Students and also our Pacific Students who received awards.
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Ms Dannielle Gaualofa and Professor William Levack.
University of Otago Pacific Graduation Ceremonies 2020
The Pacific graduation breakfast was held in December 2020 in substitution of the postponed graduation ceremonies due to unforeseen circumstances. In this year, the biggest cohort of Pacific students (22) graduated as doctors from the University of Otago Wellington. We wish to congratulate all our graduates from the University of Otago.
University of Otago Māori and Pacific graduands of the MB ChB Degree 2020 outside Scott Building Dunedin (photo courtesy of Tūī Kent).
Pacific Language Weeks celebrated in New Zealand
Pacific Language Weeks continue to be celebrated in New Zealand despite the change in the New Zealand COVID-19 Alert levels. While some Pacific Language Weeks were launched and celebrated using online platforms, other Pacific Language Weeks were celebrated and launched in-person, while closely following the New Zealand COVID-19 Alert levels guidelines. Prior to this, there were 7 Pacific Language Weeks celebrated in New Zealand which include the Samoan, Cook Island Māori, Tongan, Tuvaluan, Fijian, Niuean and Tokelauan Languages. The year 2020, two Pacific Language Weeks were added, the Rotuman and I-Kiribati Languages, bringing the total number of Pacific Languages being celebrated in New Zealand to nine.
Professor William Levack, University of Otago Wellington (UOW) Dean and Head of Campus.
University of Otago Wellington (UOW) appointment of new Dean and Head of Campus
Professor William Levack is the new Dean and Head of Campus for the University of Otago Wellington, started in the role on the 15 January 2020. Professor Levack was formerly the Associate Dean of the Research and Academic Head of Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit (RTRU).