Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation

07/23/2026

Thank you to the amazing team at Bridge of Life, the Tonga Ministry of Health and everyone working together to get us another step closer to bringing life-saving dialysis care to the people of Tonga. 🇹🇴

MORE BIG NEWS!

Our incredible volunteer from DaVita Kidney Care, Jay Ross, JUST arrived to Tonga to support a site readiness assessment for what will become the country’s first-ever dialysis clinic.

Working alongside the Tonga Ministry of Health and the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation, we’ll assess the infrastructure needed to offer safe, quality dialysis.

Establishing access to dialysis treatment in Tonga has been a healthcare goal for many years, and we’re honored to help support the next steps needed to bring this vision to life. Each visit brings us one step closer to ensuring people with kidney disease can access care closer to home.

And a special shout-out to Natalie for joining the trip and celebrating her birthday while helping advance kidney care in Tonga! 🎉💙

04/16/2026

We are very proud to share that an article written by Elizabeth Scruth, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, CCRN, CCNS, CPHQ, FCCM, FCNS, FAAN, a member of the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation medical team, together with our Chairperson & Executive Director, Victorina Kioa, has been published in an international medical journal!

The article is called “Equity for Chronic Kidney Disease in Oceania: The Tale of the Kingdom of Tonga.”

It talks about the need for better access to kidney care in the Pacific, and the challenges people in Tonga have faced without local dialysis services.

For many years, patients have had to travel overseas for treatment. The new Tonga Dialysis Centre will help bring this life-saving care closer to home.

This is an important step forward for Tonga, and for improving health outcomes in our community.

We are proud to be part of this journey.

If you would like to read the full article, please send us a message.

02/24/2026

We would like to publicly express our deepest gratitude to Spare Parts Zone (Tonga) Ltd for their generous support.

Their team not only approved our request for sponsorship of a Commercial Diesel Generator for the Tonga Dialysis Centre - they truly connected with the heart of our mission. In their response, they reflected on words from our sponsorship request:

“Without access to dialysis, countless Tongan families will continue to lose loved ones unnecessarily… establishing dialysis is not an alternative to prevention, it is a life-saving necessity.”

Knowing that this message resonated with them means more than we can express. Their contribution is a significant investment in protecting Tongan families and strengthening healthcare in our Kingdom.

We are honoured to stand alongside local businesses who believe in this vision and are willing to take meaningful action.

Mālō ‘aupito, Spare Parts Zone (Tonga) Ltd, for your generosity, leadership and heart for our people.

01/30/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬

The Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation is proud to be supported by an incredible group of advisors, medical professionals, volunteers and partners who contribute their time, expertise and commitment to our mission.

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 / 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞

𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 / 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬
• Richard Wolfgramm

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬:
• Mrs Leafa Tuita Taumoepau
• Mr Lynn McMurray
• Dr Mansoor Emam
• Mr Rodnia Emam
• Mr Steve Kaufusi
• Mr Tomasi Sitake
• Mr Joel Tuaileva
• Ms Chelsea Edmunds
• Ms Rachel Styer

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 & 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 🩺
• Dr Mansoor Emam
• Dr Russell Schedlich
• Dr Arsalan Habib
• Mr Chris Atwater
• Mr Malakai Vakasiuola
• Mr Fredric Doss
• Dr Kalani Raphael
• Dr Elizabeth Scruth
• Ms Christine Lacerna

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 🤝
• Prime Minister’s Office (Tonga)
• Ministry of Health (Tonga)
• Bridge of Life by DaVita
• University of Utah – Nephrology Department
• Stanford University – Nephrology Department
• Hope Free Clinic (Utah)

We sincerely thank every advisor, volunteer and partner for their invaluable support and shared commitment to improving outcomes for those affected by kidney disease.

01/19/2026

𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 - 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬

The Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation would like to share an update regarding our governance and Board of Directors, effective 30 September 2025.

Our Chairman, Rod Emam, has temporarily stepped down from his role to complete his studies. In addition, Dr Mansoor Emam has relocated overseas for medical reasons. We thank both Rod and Dr Emam for their dedication, leadership and ongoing support of the Foundation.

Effective 30 September 2025, the Board of Directors of the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation is as follows:

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫
• Victorina Kioa

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
• Ram Vamanrav

𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
• Dr Arsalan Habib
• Nicole Farrell

𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫
• Sitaram Vamanrav

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲
• Ana Brown

We also acknowledge the continued professional support of our Attorney and welcome our new Accountant:
• Sterling Olander, Attorney
• Kap Sikahama, Accountant

The Foundation remains committed to strong governance, transparency, and its mission to support dialysis services in Tonga.

10/16/2025

We’re proud to announce a powerful new partnership - Stanford University and Tonga’s Ministry of Health are joining SBDC to help make Tonga’s first dialysis facility a reality.

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Tonga has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Stanford University’s Division of Nephrology to help establish Tonga’s first-ever Dialysis Center, led by the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center (SBDC) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This collaboration will bring life-saving dialysis treatment home to Tonga for the first time - ending the heartbreaking reality of families being separated for care abroad.

Set to open in February 2026, our center marks a new era of hope, healthcare and unity for our people. ❤️🇹🇴

We thank the Ministry of Health, Stanford University and all who continue to make this vision - inspired by the late Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Mata‘aho - a reality.

10/15/2025

For many Tongans, dialysis means leaving behind their families and traveling overseas for expensive care.

Some don’t have this option, and are forced to say their goodbyes 💔

Mele’s story reminds us why the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center is needed - so every Tongan can access life-saving treatment at home.

Please help us bring hope home!

Any donation big or small directly supports our mission to complete the build of the first dialysis treatment center in Tonga.

🔗 https://www.siaosibrowndialysiscenter.com/donate

10/09/2025

Fakamalo lahi ki he kainga Tonga ‘i Salt Lake City, Utah. Thank you also to the National Tongan American Society (TNAS) for co-hosting our event on Tuesday night ( Oct 7, 2025) at the Salt Lake County Government Center. Thank you for attending the event to listen to the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Ana Akauola and the SBDC Board. She was also able to answer questions from the floor.

Your presence, encouragement, and support have truly inspired us and given us renewed energy and determination to complete the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center for the people of Tonga.

Together, we are turning hope into reality.

10/03/2025

09/19/2025

Donations can also be deposited directly to our Bank Account:

Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center
Bank Name: Zions Bancorporation, N.A.
Address: 1 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84133, USA.

Acct #: 982250052
Routing number: 124000054
SWIFT Number: ZFNBUS55