Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga
Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Health and the Pacific community. Part of Dr Talemaitoga’s work, included developing the Pegasus Health Pacific Reference Group in the late 2000s. Successes from this group were an increased rate of cervical screening amongst Pacific communities and scholarships to support Pacific students. He is a trusted source for the community, explaining complex terms in an understandable way, and promoting long term health to this vulnerable population.
Dr Amama Thornley
Dr Amama Bagem Thornley was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours for services to health. Dr Thornley plays an active teaching role in the Etu Pasifika clinic in Christchurch, mentoring GP Trainees and Trainee Interns. She supported the national ‘Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care’ organisation, now Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa, and played a key role in the establishment of their Christchurch clinic in 1994.