Eliana Viali, a Samoan master’s student at Otago University, is pioneering research on how Samoan stroke survivors respond to physical activity as treatment. She is believed to be the first to explore this critical area, addressing a significant knowledge gap in the Pacific.
Eliana first attended Otago in 2014 as a Manaaki Scholar, graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2019. After working at Samoa’s Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, she noticed differences in how stroke patients engaged in physical activity. “Zero research” existed on the subject, motivating her to upskill by undertaking a postgraduate certificate in Neurological Rehabilitation.
Her paper coordinator, Dr. Ally Calder, encouraged her to expand the project into a master’s thesis. “Through my research, I have learnt about what matters to Samoan people when it comes to health care,” Eliana said.
Beyond academia, Eliana has worked as a sports medic and educator across the Pacific, balancing commitments to family, church, and community. She will submit her thesis in February 2025.
“The best part of my time in Ōtepoti is the people I’ve met,” she said, expressing gratitude to her supervisors and fellow Pacific scholars. “I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude… I can’t believe I get paid to think!”