Dr. Kishan Kumar is a distinguished Fiji & New Zealand registered nurse with 16 years of extensive experience in healthcare and education. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing from Massey University, New Zealand, and has achieved notable academic accolades, including a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Fiji, where he was honoured as Gold Medallist of the Year in 2020. Kumar’s qualifications also include a Master’s in Public Health and multiple postgraduate diplomas and certificates in public health, educational leadership, and nursing.
In his current role as a Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Specialist for the Health Program at the Fiji Program Support Platform, Kumar excels in conducting comprehensive reviews, preparing detailed reports, and updating critical data frameworks. His previous positions include Patient Experience and Quality Care Coordinator, Adjunct Lecturer at Fiji National University, and Research Data Analyst for the Cure Kids Fiji Oxygen Project. He has also served as a Palliative Care Consultant with the Fiji Cancer Society, where he managed significant training and development programs.
Kumar’s career is marked by his leadership roles, including Senior Lecturer and Head of School at TISI Sangam College of Nursing and Health Care Education, and his impactful work as a Fiji Foot Care Program Coordinator with Diabetes Fiji Inc. His foundational experience as a Community Health Nurse with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services further underscores his deep commitment to advancing healthcare in Fiji and the Pacific region. His research interest areas include indigenous health, rural remote nursing and public health policy.
Ms. Rukshana M. Nisha is a registered nurse in Fiji with eight years of work experience with the Ministry of Health. During this time, she worked in both medical nursing and public health. She served for two years at Levuka Hospital and four years in public health as a zone nurse. She holds a Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Fiji and has completed TOT 1, 2, 3 & 4, as well as TVET 001 & 002.
Ms. Nisha joined Sangam College of Nursing in 2009 as a clinical tutor in public health. In 2014, she became a lecturer and taught Primary Health Care. In 2016, she was appointed Head of the Department of Primary Health Care. In January 2025, she served as Acting Head of School for six months.
She is passionate about teaching nurses who are committed to community nursing and is dedicated to enabling them to make significant contributions to public health. Her goal is to promote health and prevent disease and disability in Fiji by focusing on population health.