BY JOY OFASIA
For the first time, the Solomon Islands has recorded its first Oral Surgeon, 36-year-old Dr. Grace Mali Mamupio, who hails from Dunde Village, Munda, and New Jella in the North New Georgia Western Province.
Dr. Mamupio is currently working as an Oral Surgery Senior Registrar at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), Oral Surgery Unit, Dental Department. She has been with the National Dental Team since 2013 until the present and has worked as a supervising Chief Dental Officer in Western Province. She has also been actively involved in primary and secondary healthcare committees and task forces at the provincial level.
She graduated with a Bachelor in Dental Surgery from the Fiji School of Medicine in (2008-2012) under the Solomon Islands Government Scholarship (SIG). In 2020-2021, she obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Oral Surgery, and in 2022-2024, she also obtained a Master in Oral Surgery under the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarship (AAPS). In 2022, she attained her Micro-credential Certificate in Practices in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine at Fiji National University. She recently completed her Masters in Oral Surgery in 2024 with high recognition from FNU.
As the first Oral Surgeon with honors, Dr. Mamupio said it is an overwhelming feeling and achievement. She is truly humbled and blessed to have been given this opportunity to reach this level of academia and professional attainment and to be taught and trained in one of the prestigious medical institutions in the Pacific region.
“Being the first female oral surgeon is not only a personal achievement but an achievement that resulted from the endless support of a community of family, loved ones, friends, and professional colleagues who deserve my gratitude for continuously believing in me in this journey,” said Dr. Mamupio.
Dr. Mamupio says her journey as a female dental surgeon in a male-dominated field came with its challenges, especially in a strong cultural setting environment. However, this has slowly been dying out as more people are aware of the negative effects of gender-sensitive issues, especially in the field of health surgical services.
She added that in the Pacific region, including the Solomon Islands, more females are trained and actively involved in male-dominated fields of work. This has enabled females to pursue and persevere in other professional fields.
“As I resume my duties, I will still work under the professional supervision of other related specialists in Surgery and colleagues with experience in this field. I am hoping to make use of this opportunity and experience as I start off this career,” said Dr. Mamupio.
She further added that the achievement of being the first female oral surgeon involved a lot of sacrifices and patience. She adds that anyone can pursue this pathway with strong perseverance and a good support system.
“I am truly blessed to be one of the female trailblazers in the field of Oral Surgeon, and I would like to encourage other aspiring female professionals in our country that nothing is impossible if you have faith and believe in yourself and fully utilize your potentials. You can accomplish anything,” Dr. Mamupio said.
