Congressman Faleomavaega today offered his congratulations to Dr. Malouamaua Puleisili Tuiolosega for successfully fulfilling the requirements for medical certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).  The ECFMG is the sanctioning authority that authenticates and certifies medical credentials of international medical graduates of foreign medical schools.  To be eligible to apply for ECFMG certification, a candidate is required to have successfully passed steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) and submit graduate credentials for verification.

An equivalency report issued by the credential evaluator of the International Education Research Foundation, INC. in 2005 rendered that Mr. Malouamaua Tuiolosega has a degree comparable to the Doctor of Medicine degree which is awarded by regionally accredited universities in the United States.  Dr. Tuiolosega successfully passed the USMLE Step 1 (concepts of sciences basic to the practice of medicine) in 2006 and Step 2 (clinical knowledge and clinical skills) in 2008, and hence, was awarded the ECFMG certification in February, 2009. 

Dr. Tuiolosega is a 1998 graduate of Fiji School of Medicine with a M.B. (Bachelor of Medicine) and B.S. (Bachelor of Surgery) credentials.  He returned to American Samoa to do residency in internal medicine and family practice at LBJ Tropical Medical Center in 1996 and in 1999. 

Dr. Malouamaua Puleisili Tuiolosega is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Puleisili and Meleane Tuiolosega of Olosega, Manu’a.  He is married to Caroline Rubbert of Aurora, Colorado and they have three children – one son and two daughters.

“I am proud of Dr. Tuiolosega’s efforts and determination to achieve this difficult feat,” Faleomavaega said.  “The USMLE is now a requirement for medical doctors at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center who graduated from foreign medical schools and I am pleased to know that Tuiolosega has succeeded in obtaining the certification required in order to practice in our local hospital.”

“Given the dire shortage of USMLE certified doctors in American Samoa, I am pleased with Dr. Tuiolosega’s strong desire to return to American Samoa to assist with the health and medical care needs of our people, and I again congratulate him for his accomplishments,” Faleomavaega concluded.