The National University of Samoa’s School of Medicine has added a doctor with background in forensic pathology to its teaching ranks.

According to the University, Samoa does not have a medical doctor with the pathology background that the newly recruited doctor has.

The University’s Office of the Vice Chancellor and President yesterday advised of the appointment of Dr. Embiruka Osborne Nyandiva as a senior lecturer at the School of Medicine under the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Born in Kenya, Dr. Nyandiva is a medical by profession specializing in pathology, oncology and forensic medicine and holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degree, an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Medicine, and a Master Degree in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. 

He has also competed his PhD in Molecular Pathology and Oncology this year and in September 2016 was awarded a Fellow of Royal College of Pathologist in the UK. 

Dr. Nyandiva’s appointment fills a number of teaching gaps for both the preclinical and clinical phases of the NUS medical curriculum, stated NUS media release.

“His vast knowledge and skills set in pathology and forensic medicine would be equally beneficial for medical students, in both preclinical and clinical years of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) programme. Dr. Nyandiva’s appointment comes timely with the agenda N.U.S. has placed for the medical realm within the University, a plan well applauded by the new appointee himself.”

Dr. Nyandiva said there were many factors that create a great learning environment in his field and accreditation and facilities are part of that.

“There are many factors that go into creating a great learning environment for my particular field. Accreditation, facilities and the learning environment are all part of that.”

“N.U.S has all these needed parts to succeed, it is my job to ensure that the standard of graduates that come out of N.U.S. are competent and ready to perform,” he said.

Dr. Nyandiva says N.U.S. still could be better and chooses to applaud the move to further push the envelope in making N.U.S. a prestigious location for medical education in particular.