The LBJ Hospital hopes to select five students to take up medical studies in Fiji under the sponsorship of the American Samoa Government in the new year.
The successful candidates are to begin their studies at the Fiji School of Medicine in the new school year which begins in February/March.
Dr. Akenese Nikolao, LBJ’s Deputy Director of Human Resources and Public Relations Officer for LBJ says the medical scholarships are an initiative of Governor Lolo Moliga and LBJ CEO Taufetee John Faumuina.
The aim is to build capacity among local doctors and ensure sustainability of the medical profession. At present the majority of doctors on the LBJ staff are expatriate, many from neighboring islands.
The medical scholarships were advertised in the local newspaper.
Nikolao says the scholarships are for general physicians but it’s hoped that after their first 6 years they will decide on specialties.
This is the first time in about a decade that local students will be taking up studies with the Fiji university.
The LBJ stopped sending students to Fiji when the LBJ Board at the time began enforcing a local requirement for doctors practicing at LBJ to be US certified.
That is they must have passed the United States Medical Licensure Examination.
Dr. Nikolao says the Fiji school has agreed to make USLME certification a part of their course work.
The Fiji scholarship winners are to be announced by mid January.
