𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

Three years ago, Dr Ronal Kumar had never seen an angiogram being performed.

This week, the Consultant Surgeon at Aspen Lautoka Hospital stood beside one of Fiji’s senior surgical trainees and proudly watched her perform her first angioplasty.

For Dr Kumar, it was more than another medical procedure. It was a moment that showed just how far he — and the vascular service at Lautoka Hospital — had come.

Senior trainee Dr Manisha Prakash performed her first angioplasty under Dr Kumar’s mentorship, marking another encouraging step in the development of local vascular expertise.

Sharing the moment, Dr Kumar reflected on his own journey and the people who helped him along the way.

His training at the Christchurch Hospital Vascular Unit (VETS) gave him the mentorship, support and practical experience needed to develop his skills and, eventually, help establish vascular services at Aspen Lautoka Hospital.

He also acknowledged the support of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Global Vascular Society, saying their assistance had played an important part in the progress made in Fiji.

In just 11 months, the vascular service at Lautoka Hospital has grown to provide both open and endovascular procedures. The team has already reached several major milestones, including thoracic stent procedures, pulmonary embolisation, peripheral angioplasty and vascular access procedures.

But for Dr Kumar, watching Dr Prakash take this important step in her own career was particularly meaningful.

“From being a trainee who had never seen an angiogram, to now standing beside and watching the next generation perform their first endovascular procedure — this is what mentorship, training, teamwork, and paying it forward are all about,” he shared.

“I could not be prouder.”

It is a simple but powerful story of how knowledge is passed on — from one doctor to another, and then to the next generation.

What Dr Kumar once travelled overseas to learn is now being taught and practised at home in Fiji.

And perhaps that is the biggest milestone of all.

Onwards and upwards.

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