Viopapa Annandale-Atherton
Viopapa Annandale–Atherton | |
---|---|
Born | Viopapa Annandale |
Alma mater | University of Otago |
Known for | first Samoan woman to graduate in medicine from the University of Otago |
Viopapa Annandale–Atherton (also known as Papali'i Dr Viopapa Annandale–Atherton) is a Samoan medical doctor who has worked to improve the health of women and children in the Pacific Islands. She was the first Pacific Island woman to graduate from a New Zealand university.
Early life and education[]
Born in Samoa, Annandale–Atherton is the daughter of Edward Annandale and Sina Nelson.[1] Annandale–Atherton received a scholarship to study at Epsom Girls Grammar School.[2][3] She studied medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1964.[4][5]
Career[]
After graduation Annandale–Atherton went to Edinburgh where she was a house surgeon at the Royal Infirmary.[3] She studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine receiving a Diploma in Tropical Health.[3][5]
Annandale–Atherton has served on many health organisations: the World Health Organisation's (WHO) advisory committee on long-acting contraceptives, as head of Samoa's Maternal and Child Health Department (1971–1982), one of the founders of a school for special needs (1979), on a Samoan body looking into domestic violence and human rights (1994), and president of Soroptimist International of Samoa.[3]
In 1992, after many years of moving between the United Kingdom and Samoa, she returned to Samoa to set up a general practice.[3]
Annandale–Atherton has worked to improve the health and welfare of women and children in the Pacific Islands.[5] This has included obtaining international funding for projects from USAID, the EU and WHO to support women and children, and initiating family planning services and vaccination programmes in Samoa.[3] She has been active in the Pan–Pacific and South East Asian Women's Association and was international president from 2004 to 2010.[3][6][7]
Honours and awards[]
Annandale–Atherton received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Otago in 2019.[8][5]
Personal life[]
Annandale–Atherton's great-grandfather was Thomas Annandale, a Professor of Clinical Surgery in Scotland.[3][9]
Her grandfather was Samoan businessman and politician Ta'isi Olaf Frederick Nelson.[10]
She met her husband John Atherton in Edinburgh and they had two sons.[3] Her father in law was Noel Atherton.[11]
References[]
- ^ "Papalii Dr. Viopapa Atherton, 79; A mother of two". Samoan Observer.
- ^ "Epsom Girls Grammar School "Old Girls Association" Newsletter September 2020" (PDF). www.eggs.school.nz. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "A woman of the Pacific". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Graduate roll". The Early Medical Women of New Zealand. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d McPhee, Elena (17 May 2019). "English among doctorate recipients". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Pan-Pacific and South East Asian Women's Association". gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "International Presidents". PPSEAWA International - Pan-Pacific & Southeast Asia Women's Association. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Dr Viopapa Annandale-Atherton and Sir Bill English, both Honorary Doctors of Law | The Governor-General of New Zealand". gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Papalii Dr. Viopapa Atherton, 79; A mother of two". Samoan Observer.
- ^ O'Brien, Patricia (2018). Tautai: Sāmoa, World History, and the Life of Ta'isi O.F. Nelson. ISBN 978-0-8248-7239-7. OCLC 1024033073.
- ^ "A Study of Annandale Families. Noel Atherton". annandale.one-name.net. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links[]
- University of Otago alumni
- People educated at Epsom Girls' Grammar School
- Living people
- Samoan women
- Samoan people of Scottish descent
- Samoan physicians