Dr Semiti Aims for First Itaukei Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

Dr Semiti Vakabua has set his goal on becoming Fiji’s first Itaukei Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon – a feat he is working towards achieving.

Fiji has few heart surgeons who carry out vascular surgery but only a few do cardiothoracic.

He knows the goal is reachable especially being taught by one of the world’s renowned cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, Dr Sanjeev Khulbey from India.

The soft-spoken surgeon hails from Vunikura villager from Buca Bay in the Cakaudrove province with maternal links to Vatukacevaceva in Ra.

He said he spent his early childhood growing up with his two sisters under the watchful eyes of his parents, who were both farmers in a small settlement called Nakauvadra which comes under the vanua of Nasuva-Welagi on Taveuni.

Ironically the name Nakauvadra comes from the mountain ranges in Ra, where his mum is from.

He went on to attend Niusawa Methodist Secondary School and completed his secondary education from forms five to seven at Sila Central High School in Nausori.

He later earned a scholarship to attend the then Fiji School of Medicine under the MBBS programme to become a doctor in 2005.

He graduated from FSM in 2010 and was posted to Labasa Hospital and spent time at Saqani Health Centre near Lakeba. After 6 years in meds school

“My interest in surgery began when I was still in high school, so I returned to Labasa Hospital.

“But at that time, around 2013, to achieve your post graduate diploma in surgery I had to start at Labasa Hospital as a non-trainee surgeon.

In 2014 he started in Labasa hospital surgical department then in 2015 joined Lautoka Hospital as part of the non-trainee rotation in order to do the surgical programme in CWM hospital.

“So basically, to join the programme one need to do two years as a non- trainee before coming to Suva. That was how it was done back then.

“I was transferred to Lautoka Hospital in 2015 and not long afterwards I was posted to the Golan Heights where I spent 12 months with the Fiji Military Forces Medical Corp under UNDOF.

Dr Vakabua said he returned to Lautoka Hospital in September 2016 and applied to join the programme for postgraduate, but the final year was halted by the coronavirus outbreak.

I came back in sept 2016 – spent 4 months before I stared my diploma in surgery in 2017- graduated then I proceed with 3 years MMED-Surgery from 2018- 2020 but covid came and delay my final years for two years until I finished it in 2022.

However, he completed his master’s in surgery in 2022 and presently now is in his second year as post master and is a junior surgical consultant under general surgery.

“After you get your masters you are allowed to go to Australia as a fellowship consultant attachment where you go into a field where your interest lies – be it plastic or neurosurgery or vascular surgery.

The opportunity to go abroad for further training is offered to anyone who has completed their master in medicine, whether it’s surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, internal medicine and anesthesia.

A minimum of two years is the time for the attachment- this mainly for them to be subspecialized in that fields.

“I was supposed to go to Australia to do vascular surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery with vascular surgery as part of it) but PSH CEO and director Parvish Kumar, whom I converse a lot with suggested I carry out the training here at PSH Nadi rather than go to Australia.

“I’m supposed to go this year for such attachment but this oppoturnity arrived and with the advantages of learning from one of the best here at home and who is willing to groom me then I think I can defer my going abroad for now.

“This opportunity is hard to come by especially when I can do it here at home.

“I jumped to the suggestion as Dr Khulbey is renowned around the world in this field and it was a chance in a lifetime being his guidance and teachings.

“He was willing to take me onboard and whatever can you wish for – training and learning to do what you have aimed for at home where you can still be around family.”

Dr Vakabua said he has assisted Dr Khulbey in three open heart surgeries this week and has learnt an immense amount of knowledge.

“He is a very humble man.

“I have assisted many cardiothoracic teams in the past at CWM Hospital but not like this at PSH.

“It’s not only hands on but there is a pathway that has been created by Mr Kumar where I can train here.”

Dr Vakabua is humbled with this new opening in his career and the thought that he would be the first i-taukei Fijian.

“Being the first I wouldn’t say it that way, but since it’s a surgical sub-specialty in surgery where no one here in Fiji has really taken it with passion that is to be trained and do it in the future is what I am aiming for to help our people,” Dr Vakabua said.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj