“My dream was to be great. I didn’t know how, but I just wanted to be great.”
These powerful words are from Dr Layana Menke and encapsulate the spirit and determination that has defined her remarkable journey in medicine.
Dr Layana joined an Integrating Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) into Healthcare training in February 2025 and shared her experience of being Nauru’s youngest female doctor with the Australia-Pacific Partnerships Platform GEDSI Specialist, Shirleen Ali.
As the youngest of Nauru’s 3 female Nauruan doctors, Dr Layana’s path to medicine began with a deeply personal experience. For 12 months, she served as her grandmother’s primary caretaker, an experience that quietly planted the seeds of her medical career. This innate calling to care for others would later blossom into a passionate pursuit of medicine, although she initially kept her ambitions close to her heart.
In a moment that now feels like destiny, Dr Layana’s mother only discovered her daughter’s medical aspirations when they attended a scholarship interview together. It was a bold step for the young woman, especially given the path ahead would lead her to Cuba for her medical studies.
Through dedication and perseverance, Dr Layana proved her critics wrong. In 2017, she stood proud as the sole female graduate among 4 students completing their medical studies. Her success story adds another brilliant chapter to the legacy of Nauruan women in medicine, following the trailblazing path of Dr Angelique ‘Angel; Makutu (née Grundler), Nauru’s first female doctor and Dr Debao.
“When I first applied to be a trainee in the health sector, I told them I want to help people – and here I am, helping people,” she reflected.
The mentorship she received from Dr Angel, whom she fondly shadowed during her early days, proved instrumental in cementing her commitment to healthcare. Coming from a family with medical professionals, Dr Layana has carved her own unique path as the first female doctor in her family.
Her journey from being her grandmother’s caretaker to becoming one of Nauru’s respected physicians showcases the power of following one’s calling, regardless of the obstacles. Dr Angel’s influence as a mentor highlights the crucial role of women supporting women in professional spaces, creating a chain of inspiration and guidance that strengthens with each generation.
Participating in the GEDSI healthcare training alongside Dr Debao Dr Layana continued to demonstrate her commitment to advancing healthcare in Nauru. Her presence in the medical community serves as a powerful reminder that greatness comes in many forms, and that dreams, when pursued with unwavering determination, can overcome any doubt.
As Nauru’s youngest female Nauruan doctor, Dr Layana represents both the progress made in gender equality in healthcare and the bright future ahead. Her success, alongside that of Dr Angel and Debao, continues to pave the way for more young women to enter the medical profession.
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The Integrating Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) into Healthcare training was organised by the Nauru Ministry of Health and supported by the Australia-Pacific Partnerships Platform. The purpose of the training was designed to assist ministry staff to understand how personal and systemic biases shape healthcare interactions, while exploring:
- How societal expectations, stereotypes, and gender norms influence healthcare delivery and access.
- Ways to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all individuals.
- Understanding how diverse identities and experiences impact healthcare outcomes.
- Identifying and removing barriers that prevent community members from accessing quality health care.
- Nauru’s commitments towards gender, disability and social inclusion.
