Nia Aitaoto, MPH, Honolulu, HI, is the Program Coordinator for the 'Imi Hale - Pacific Cancer Initiative at Papa Ola Lokahi, a non profit health organization. She manages cancer grants and provides technical assistance for America Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. She is also a Na Liko Noelo (budding researcher) for 'Imi Hale, the native Hawaiian Cancer Network, one of 18 Special Population Networks (SPN) funded by the National Cancer Institute and the only community-based SPN. Ms Aitaoto is currently the principal investigator for a research pilot project working with Samoan churches to design a culturally appropriate church-based intervention to improve cancer screening. In addition to her work at Papa Ola Lokahi, Ms. Aitaoto is a health consultant for the World Health Organization, where she provides health training to students all over the Pacific Islands. |