ORIPA Waqa is the first female oral surgeon specialist in the Pacific.
In what, up until now, was a male-dominated field, the Lomati, Kadavu, lass never held back when she was offered a New Zealand MFAT scholarship to pursue clinical doctorate studies at the Otago University.
“Oral surgery is where we manage traumas and pathologies in the head and neck region,” she explained.
“It was something that always had that adrenaline-rush experience for me and this was why I got drawn to it.
“Once I got a taste of it during my undergraduate days, I knew this was it for me. “It is a male-dominated field and I wanted to break that, that passion gave me the desire to make a difference.”
Ms Waqa said the journey was no where you were expected to be doing consultations and local minor surgical clinics during the day and research at night was a huge challenge.
“My thesis research was an immunohistochemistry lab-based study on a genetic mutation in one tumour that we see often in Fiji.
“I had to resort to doing lab work at night, so if I get to sleep for at least more than four hours than that was definitely a luxury.
“Sleeping patterns gets even weirder when it’s on-call time at the hospital, but it is a journey that I would not trade for anything.”
Being away from home in a land that was foreign to Ms Waqa was also another challenge.
“I had to bite the bullet and go through the challenges and strive on because it was my dream and it was my goal to achieve it.
Ms Waqa paid homage to her peers, family and friends for their never ending support throughout her studies.
“I would say that studying down in South Island was a super bonus.
“The support from the people around me was superb – from consultants to registrars, assistants, nurses and my Fijian community friends who have become family have all helped my journey become an enjoyable one.
“I am thankful for my faith in God. I am thankful for the gift of life and His plans in my life.
“I acknowledge my parents and my siblings and friends for the prayers and support.”
Ms Waqa said the environment at Otago University provided her with unique learning opportunities.
“I got to learn from consultant Oral Maxillofacial surgeons and Pathologist research supervisors who have the heart and the passion to teach and make me better at what I do, colleagues who had my back when the journey got tough and the spirit of collegiality and comradeship was something that I am proud of in this institution.
“To top it off, it’s the people that make the difference, the consultant surgeons, consultant pathologists, the registrars, the house surgeons, nurses and the assistants, the international office staff and graduate school staff of the university.
“And I have to acknowledge the New Zealand Fijian community and Fijian students here at the university — their support, help and guidance is something I will be forever grateful for.”
Ms Waqa said she planned to return home to serve and share her knowledge and work with her colleagues to help improve services provided to the Fijian people.
She encouraged all Fijians to aim high and not let anyone deter them from achieving their dreams.
“There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream or desire a reality.”
“It does not cost you to dream, but with passion and vigilance, any dream can become a reality.”
