We are pleased to welcome a new member to the HRC's Pacific Health Research Committee, Auckland University of Technology Senior Research Fellow Dr El-Shadan Tautolo.
Dr Tautolo's primary area of research specialisation is the health and well-being of Pacific families and communities in New Zealand. He has a strong association with the HRC, having completed a HRC Pacific PhD Scholarship and a HRC Pacific Postdoctoral Fellowship. Both of these studies focused on how Pacific fathers influence the development of their children.
Dr Tautolo is currently director of the Centre for Pacific Health and Development Research and the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study, an ongoing birth cohort study of 1398 Pacific families, based in South Auckland, New Zealand.
Dr Tautolo was born and raised in South Auckland, but has always maintained strong links to his Samoan and Cook Island heritage. He says one of the most rewarding parts of his research is reporting back to Pacific communities and inspiring the next generation through his mentoring work.