Pacific Spotlight – Dr Ratu Mara’s leadership in health emergency preparedness
30 Sep 2024
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Dr Ratu Mara Vukivukiseru, Director of Medical Services at Aspen Medical Lautoka Hospital has been a driving force behind health emergency preparedness in Fiji for over two decades. Specialising in anaesthesia and intensive care, Dr Mara has expertly managed critical situations both in hospitals and during emergency responses. Earlier this year, Dr Mara was appointed the inaugural Pacific Hospital Major Incident Medical Management and Support (HMIMMS) Course Director, a role that highlights his leadership in strengthening emergency preparedness across the region.
Dr Mara’s connection with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) began over 10 years ago when he attended his first Major Incident Medical Management and Support (MIMMS) course. The course teaches a structured, practical approach to managing mass casualties during major incidents, emphasising scene management and pre-hospital care. “It all started back in 2013,” he recalls. “The course opened my eyes to how structured and organised health emergency responses can be.” Building on that experience, he completed the HMIMMS course, which focuses on hospital-based care and is designed for clinical and non-clinical personnel involved in major incident management.
Dr Mara’s extensive experience in ICU has equipped him with the ability to navigate high-pressure environments where swift and effective decision-making is essential. His career has also been shaped by influential mentors who helped him develop his leadership style. “Leadership is about listening, learning, and lifting others up,” he humbly reflects. This guidance led to a position on the NCCTRC faculty, where he teaches and mentors emergency responders across the Pacific. In 2018, Dr Mara completed the MIMMS General Instructors Course (GIC) in Darwin. “That was a turning point for me,” he shares. “Becoming an instructor gave me the chance to pass on what I’d learned, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to help others grow.”
In his new role as the Pacific HMIMMS Course Director, Dr Mara is focused on building a strong network of instructors and healthcare professionals throughout the Asia-Pacific, training them to handle large-scale health emergencies. “My goal is to create a lasting foundation for preparedness,” he explains, “where teams are trained, confident, and ready to respond to any emergency.”
We might live in different countries but we often face the same challenges – limited staff and limited resources. MIMMS and HMIMMS teaches us how to maximise what we have, and that has made a real difference.
His leadership extends across the Asia-Pacific where he has helped train professionals from countries such as Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. “We might live in different countries but we often face the same challenges – limited staff and limited resources. MIMMS and HMIMMS teaches us how to maximise what we have, and that has made a real difference.
Dr Mara’s leadership has been instrumental in developing a strong pool of MIMMS-trained professionals. “At Lautoka Hospital, MIMMS has become integral to our emergency management," he says. “From handling natural disasters like cyclones to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the MIMMS principles have been crucial.” The true value of the MIMMS principles became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when Dr Mara and his team at Lautoka Hospital used their training to develop a comprehensive health emergency response plan. “HMIMMS gave us the tools to respond to COVID in a structured way,” he says. “The course taught us how to coordinate across departments and manage patient surges. Despite the pressures we faced, our team worked together to keep things running as smoothly as possible.”
One of the most significant moments of Dr Mara’s career occurred two weeks after teaching an HMIMMS course when a major bus accident involving more than 60 students occurred in Lautoka. “It was a true test of what we had learned,” he recalls. “HMIMMS was fresh in our team’s minds and they immediately put their training into practice. The response was quick and efficient, proving the real-world value of this training.”
MIMMS training extends beyond healthcare, targeting both clinical and non-clinical personnel that may be involved in managing major incidents. During a recent Ministry of Health workshop drafting a counterterrorism plan for Fiji, non-medical professionals actively discussed the MIMMS principles, a moment that delighted Dr Mara. “Seeing these concepts applied outside of healthcare truly shows their value,” he remarked. As Pacific HMIMMS Director, he is committed to expanding this training to non-clinical teams. “In a disaster, everyone needs to be a part of the response and know their role,” he emphasises.
Through his leadership, training, and mentorship, Dr Mara has helped build stronger, more resilient healthcare systems. “It’s been a privilege to share what I’ve learned and work alongside so many talented professionals,” he reflects. Looking ahead, Dr Mara remains committed to continuing these efforts, ensuring that teams across the region are equipped, prepared and ready to respond when needed, united by the shared goal of saving lives and supporting communities.
