A journey of lifelong learning and ground-breaking achievements

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand, Associate Professor Rhea Liang has led a life that spans continents, cultures, and fields of study. Her path is distinguished by scholarly excellence, surgical proficiency, and a deep commitment to promoting social justice.

A cross-cultural beginning

I was born in Hong Kong, but that was accidental, Rhea shares with the humour of a well-loved family tale. Her parents, immigrants to New Zealand, had returned to their homeland to introduce their firstborn to the extended family when Rhea decided to make her unexpected debut. I was born tiny and have barely grown since, she shares with a chuckle, recounting her inadvertent birth story, which began her life’s journey – small in stature but monumental in impact.

The Liang family returned to New Zealand with their newest member when she was a toddler. It was there that Rhea would spend her formative years, threading her way through the education system with an eye cast towards the medical profession.

Beyond medicine

Growing up in a family deeply embedded in the medical field, Rhea’s father, Dr Allen Liang ONZM, is an esteemed specialist in Auckland. He is known for his work with asthma and eczema in children and his expertise in gastroenterology and respiratory issues. His influence meant that medical terminology and concepts were a familiar part of Rhea’s upbringing. This familiarity naturally benefited her when she began medical studies at the University of Auckland. 

However, after graduation from medical school, I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Education at Massey University due to its flexibility and accessibility, which was crucial as my surgical training rotations required me to relocate 11 times, she explains, highlighting Massey’s enduring advantages in offering adaptable degree programmes.

For Rhea, education was never a binary choice between medicine and other fields of study. Each year, the Massey prospectus would arrive, and Rhea would dive in like a ‘kid in the candy shop.’ From the depths of French literature to the complexities of higher mathematics, she sampled a feast of knowledge, eventually leading to a major in Education and a minor in Māori. I limited myself to a couple of papers each semester to keep the workload manageable. 

There was never a grand plan but rather a firm belief that learning is a lifelong journey. This belief propelled Rhea through fourteen years of piecemeal but passionate study, culminating in a BA(Ed) that stands as a testament to her commitment to learning. She highlights the advantage of aligning personal interests with formal education programmes, noting how pursuing one’s passions can lead to formal qualifications that aid career advancement. Today, with titles such as MBChB, BA(Ed), PGCertBusStud, MSurgEd, FRACS, FACS, FFSTEd, FAcadME, and FRCSEng(Hon) to her name, Rhea exemplifies the fruits of following one’s interests and the continuous quest for knowledge. Even now, she remains committed to furthering her education, actively working towards another qualification and showcasing the endless journey of learning and professional development.

Breaking new ground

Being awarded a Massey Scholar for academic excellence marked a pivotal moment for Rhea, illuminating her diverse talents and diminishing the feelings of ‘imposter syndrome’ sometimes accompanying achievement. Being honoured as a Massey Scholar in a field outside of medicine, at a university where I had no family ties in the faculty, helped alleviate some of my doubts about my abilities beyond the medical sphere. 

Rhea’s BA(Ed) from Massey laid the theoretical groundwork for her role in surgical education through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Meanwhile, her business qualification opened doors to leadership roles requiring a skill set beyond clinical practice. She speaks of the worlds of surgery, education, and business, often siloed, leading to conflicts that could be avoided if only a shared language existed. Being able to use the language of those three worlds helps to bridge gaps, she explains. That’s when magic happens.

Rhea’s career is marked by many ‘firsts’ – becoming the first woman in the general surgical department upon her move to the Gold Coast 16 years ago, where she was the sole woman for almost ten years (the department now boasts four). She became the first-ever Education Scholar from Australasia of any gender, at the American College of Surgeons in 2018. In 2021, she became the first woman Councillor elected to the ANZ chapter of the American College of Surgeons. She made history again in 2023 as the first Australian woman (and the second from New Zealand, after Prof Anne Kolbe ONZM) to be awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Additionally, she is the first woman to represent Australasia on the editorial board of the British Journal of Surgery.

Making a difference

She describes her many firsts with a blend of pride and a call to action, acknowledging the long road ahead for gender parity in surgery. I would love for women to be normalised in surgery to the point where we no longer have ‘firsts’. Rhea shares that the journey towards gender parity in surgery is long, with estimates ranging from decades to over a century for different specialities. She views these predictions with a mixture of realism and resolve. Unless we greatly accelerate progress in this area, I will need to survive until I’m 200 years old to see gender parity achieved, she quips, highlighting the urgency of reform.

Her cultural competence has been a cornerstone of her advocacy, especially in Australia, where she noted a stark disparity in Indigenous health care compared to New Zealand. Despite the complexity and relative inaccessibility of Australian Indigenous languages, Rhea has been steadfast in her efforts to improve health outcomes for Indigenous patients, recognising the power of language and culturally congruent care. Her work in this space is informed by evidence that such care improves health outcomes, supporting the notion that pursuing racial equity in healthcare is as crucial as gender equity.

Rhea’s relationship with language is as complex as it is profound. Fluent in English, competent in Cantonese, and conversational in Māori and French, she represents a blend of linguistic abilities that transcend the traditional labels of bilingual or multilingual. “I have enough Cantonese for daily life and most medical settings and enough Māori and French to do a simple consultation when required.” Through her language skills, she has directly addressed the concerns of Māori patients, going beyond mere translation to forge a deeper connection with them. It’s more than just ‘translating’– it is showing that I am seeking an understanding of their concerns directly, she says, revealing a nuanced approach to healthcare that is culturally sensitive and patient-centric.

One of Rhea’s impactful achievements has been her allyship role in helping to found the Pride in Medicine group. Identifying with the experiences of LGBTQI+ doctors, Rhea advocated for a space where they could feel supported and acknowledged. Despite initial resistance, she harnessed her advocacy skills, networking with key figures to garner support for the initiative. The result was a historic moment at the World Pride parade in Sydney in 2023, with 14 professional colleges participating for the first time – a significant stride towards inclusivity in the medical profession.

Rhea’s dedication to public healthcare is deeply personal, stemming from her family’s history as refugees and their reliance on the kindness of strangers. This history underpins her ethos that healthcare is a right, not a privilege – an ethos that has guided her 26-year career in the public sector. In a country where the lure of private practice is strong, her decision to remain in public service is her value, and she desires to ensure accessible care for all.

Looking back and looking forward

Reflecting on her journey, Rhea’s message to current Massey students is powerful and straightforward: learning is never a waste of time; it’s invaluable in any professional arena. You might graduate with ‘the letters’, but it’s the cognitive flexibility people will hire you for. This belief in the enduring power of education and critical thinking continues to drive her remarkable career.

Looking to the future, Rhea envisions continued advocacy for under-represented groups, aiming to expand her academic contributions and encourage more doctors to engage in systemic change. It’s very satisfying because it’s possible to effect change at scale, she states, poised to navigate the uncharted waters of a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.