Prof. Satu appointed to Yale University
Apia: One of Samoa’s own sons and a senior academic at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.), Professor Asiata Dr. Satupaitea Viali, has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology by the Yale University School of Public Health. Adding to his membership in multiple specialist medical associations from Australasia to Europe and America, the appointment of Prof. Satu to a public health school of a U.S. Ivy League university is another feather in his cap of medical achievements.
A letter dated 23 May 2023 from the Yale School of Public Health addressed to Dr. Viali confirmed his appointment for a five-year period effective 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028. While he has been appointed to one of the top U.S. universities, Prof. Satu remains a full-time academic at both the N.U.S. and the Oceania University of Medicine (O.U.M.). Responding to the questions sent by the Samoa Observer on Saturday, Prof. Satu said joining the U.S. educational institution is not new as he has worked with Yale University since 2010, specifically collaborating in research. He said he started collaborating with U.S. universities when he was the Dean and Professor of Medicine for the O.U.M. Samoa in 2002, starting with Brown University in 2003.
“The Yale University collaboration started in 2010 (Ass Prof Nicola Hawley and Team), plus the Pittsburg University (Prof Dan Weeks, Ryan Minster and Team). We have a number of research going on at the moment in Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, non-communicable disease,” he said in an email response. Prof. Satu was recently appointed to an interim role at the O.U.M. as its interim Dean for Samoa and the Asia Pacific and Professor of Medicine as the university begins the recruitment process for a permanent appointment.
When asked by this newspaper how he is able to juggle his responsibilities at the N.U.S. and the O.U.M. together with Yale, he said is fortunate that the Yale University Professorial role “pivots around research and research supervision, which is something I like”.
He said research answers some of the health questions and solves some of the issues in health and disease and over the years their research team included three universities (Yale University, Brown University, and Pittsburg University) at one time – who meet on Zoom every 2 weeks (5 am or 6 am Samoan Time) to discuss the various issues in the researches being carried out as well as discuss the various publications.
“So, my day starts at 5 am some days. Though time zones are sometimes difficult to synchronize, I have to make time as often as possible to meet, also paying attention to my other roles in the School of Medicine and the Oceania University of Medicine now. If I have a class that starts at 8 am, then I have to juggle my availability, and maybe catch up with the team later.
“I also do cardiology clinics for our National Hospital which usually start at 8 am till 5 pm, on some of the days we have Zoom meetings. It’s a juggling act, but, one can only fit in 12–14 hours of work a day. I have done this for many many years.
“For teaching, as the Professor of Medicine, I teach for two days for the School of Medicine, from 8 am-5 pm, covering the Basic Science and Clinical Science in Lectures, Tutorials, and Bedside clinical teaching on patients, in Cardiovascular Medicine (200 level), Neurology Medicine (200 level), and Internal Medicine (400 & 600 level).
“For the Oceania University of Medicine, I do two days, as I am currently the Interim Dean until a permanent Dean is found, and also the Professor of Medicine teaching Cardiology to final year O.U.M. students and Internal Medicine to third and fourth-year students.” Prof. Satu added that for the day that he has left in a working week, he does cardiology clinics as the visiting cardiologist to Samoa’s Ministry of Health, though his contract with the M.O.H. expired in January this year and he is waiting for it to be renewed so he can recommence his program.
“The research that I do, is done in between these work, or before work starts. On the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) I am the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church Samoa.” Asked what could be some of the potential flow-on benefits of his appointment to Yale University, Prof. Satu said the benefits are huge as Yale University has a research centre in Samoa.
“Yale University has a Research Centre here in Samoa, and many colleagues are employed by this centre, paid by the research grants that we apply for.
“We make applications for research grants regularly to fund these researches and staff. The rent they pay in using the local facilities is another benefit to the Ministry of Health. Yale brings in many expensive research equipment (e.g. DEXA scan, e.t.c.) that are used here in Samoa.”
The association and the collaboration between Yale University and the N.U.S. School of Medicine and the O.U.M. will also boost Samoa’s local reputation, as Prof. Satu said it shows that local medical schools and institutions in Samoa are doing work “with one of the Ivy League Universities in the U.S.A.”
“We also publish many papers with colleagues from Yale and other universities. It boosts our academic reputation. For myself, I want to show our local academics here in Samoa and overseas, that we can reach the heights of academia if we work hard and have faith in our God so that we develop Samoa and its reputation. E le na o le tautaua I le lakapi ma sports, ae tautaua I le tele o le iloa ma le malamalama o le mafaufau.”