{{short description|Optometrist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Erna Fumi Rebecca Fotuofaamanuiaga Takazawa | image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = 21 December 1988 | birth_place = Japan | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|death date†|birth date†}} --> | death_place = | nationality = | other_names = | occupation = optometrist | years_active = 2012–present | known_for = Samoa's first qualified optometrist | notable_works = }} '''Erna Takazawa''' (born 1988) is the first fully qualified optometrist of Samoa. In 2014, she was awarded as one of the inaugural recipients the Queen's Young Leader Award.
==Biography== Erna Fumi Rebecca Fotuofaamanuiaga Takazawa<ref name="Optician's Board">{{cite web|title=Practitioners Name: Takazawa, Miss Erna Fumi Rebecca Fotuofaamanuiaga|url=https://www.odob.health.nz/register_search%3Fregister_search%3Dshow_detail%26register%3Dop%26id%3D232658|website=Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board|publisher=Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board|access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> was born in Japan and raised in Samoa.<ref name="University of Auckland">{{cite news |title=Graduate becomes Samoa’s first practicing optometrist |url=http://mhsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/newsandevents/deans-diary/issue245-11may2012.aspx |access-date=24 March 2015 |issue=245 |work=Dean's Diary |date=11 May 2012 |publisher=University of Auckland, New Zealand}}</ref> She graduated with First Class Honors<ref name="University of Auckland" /> with degree in optometry from the University of Auckland in 2011 and was licensed in 2012.<ref name="Optician's Board" /> She is the first fully qualified optometrist on the island and began working immediately at the newly established Samoa Vision Centre.<ref name="University of Auckland" />
Takazawa also works in conjunction with the National Health Service<ref name="Observer (2013)">{{cite news|title=Westpac prioritises staff wellbeing|url=http://www.samoaobserver.ws/local-news/28-health-/6257-westpac-prioritises-staff-wellbeing|access-date=24 March 2015|work=Samoa Observer|date=29 July 2013|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161355/http://www.samoaobserver.ws/local-news/28-health-/6257-westpac-prioritises-staff-wellbeing|url-status=dead}}</ref> and SENESE, a support program for special needs children.<ref name="Senese Organization">{{cite web|title=The history of SENESE|url=http://senese.org/about-us/history/|website=Senese Organization|publisher=Senese Organization|access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> Her work has led to free eye care services for children and the elderly and a reduction in cost of eyewear for adults. In 2013, she screened over 200 athletes with the Special Olympics.<ref name="Tauafiafi (2015)">{{cite news |last1=Tauafiafi |first1=Lealaiauloto Aigaletaulealea |title=GLOBAL ACHIEVERS: Six Pacific youth, winners of Queen Elizabeth’s inaugural global award |url=http://pacificguardians.org/blog/2015/01/13/global-achievers-six-pacific-youth-winners-of-queen-elizabeths-inaugural-global-award/.html |access-date=24 March 2015 |work=Pacific Guardians |date=13 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131957/http://pacificguardians.org/blog/2015/01/13/global-achievers-six-pacific-youth-winners-of-queen-elizabeths-inaugural-global-award/.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>
In 2014, Takazawa's work was recognized when she was awarded the Queen's Young Leader Award. The annual award is given to selected citizens throughout the Commonwealth who work to better lives in their communities.<ref name="Samoa News (2015)">{{cite news |title=Young Samoan wins global award |url=http://www.samoanews.com/content/en/young-samoan-wins-global-award?quicktabs_3=0 |access-date=24 March 2015 |work=Samoa News |date=January 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150408143105/http://www.samoanews.com/content/en/young-samoan-wins-global-award?quicktabs_3=0 |archive-date=8 April 2015}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Takazawa, Erna}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births
Category:Samoan medical doctors Category:Optometrists Category:Recipients of the Queen's Young Leader Award
{{Samoa-bio-stub}} Category:Samoan people of Japanese descent