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General Information

The John A. Burns School of Medicine works to improve the quality, effectiveness, and equity of health-care delivery in Hawai'i and the Pacific region. The school provides opportunity for qualified residents of Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands, including students from various underrepresented socioeconomic and minority groups, to qualify for an MD degree; provides MD graduates with competency to enter postgraduate programs; and provides residency training programs with emphasis on primary-care specialties.

The school also administers graduate research and professional programs leading to MS, PhD and MPH degrees in the basic medical sciences and health-related fields; BS degree programs in speech pathology and audiology and medical technology; and undergraduate courses for majors in nursing, dental hygiene, biology, nutrition, and other fields.

In addition, the school--together with the Hawai'i Medical Association and the Hawai'i Consortium for Continuing Medical Education--sponsors continuing medical education for physicians in the state of Hawai'i.

The school provides instruction for five major categories of students:

1. Candidates for the MD degree, admitted directly by the school's own admissions committee;
2. Candidates for MS degrees in biomedical sciences (with concentrations in cell and molecular biology, physiology, and tropical medicine), public health or in speech pathology and audiology who apply through the Graduate Division of the Manoa campus;
3. Candidates for the MPH degree who apply through the Graduate Division of the Manoa campus; 
4. Candidates for PhD degrees in biomedical sciences with concentrations in biostatistics-epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, physiology, and tropical medicine who apply through the Graduate Division of the Manoa campus; and
5. Candidates for undergraduate degrees in speech pathology and audiology or in medical technology, who apply through the undergraduate admissions office.

In addition, three certificates are offered through the school: an undergraduate certificate in aging, an advanced certificate in gerontology, and a post-baccalaureate certificate for medical technology clinical training.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association.

Additionally, all graduate medical education programs in Honolulu hospitals are accredited as University of Hawai'i School of Medicine residency programs. Approximately 240 physicians serve as house staff members in these hospitals under the direction of the medical school faculty.

Affiliations

The school maintains affiliations with the following community hospitals and medical facilities for medical student and resident training: Hawai'i State Hospital; Kaiser Foundation Hospital; Kalihi-Palama Health Clinic; Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children; Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi; Kokua Kalihi Valley Health Center; Kuakini Medical Center; Lê'ahi Hospital; The Physician Center; Queen Emma Clinics; Queen's Medical Center; Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific; St. Francis Medical Center; St. Francis Medical Center–West; Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children; Straub Clinic and Hospital; Tripler Army Medical Center; Wahiawa-General Hospital; Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; and the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

Degrees

Bachelor's Degrees: BS in medical technology, BS in speech pathology and audiology

Professional Degree: MD

Master's Degrees: MS in biomedical sciences (cell and molecular biology, physiology, and tropical medicine); MPH and MS in public health; MS in speech pathology and audiology

Doctoral Degrees: PhD in biomedical sciences (biostatistics-epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, physiology, and tropical medicine)

Advising

Premedical advising is conducted by the Student Academic Services Office of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

Academic Policies

Undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Medicine must adhere to the academic policies of the University. Medical students are exempted from certain Manoa policies and instead must follow academic policies germane to the MD program. Copies are available in the school's Office of Student Affairs and the Learning Resource Room.

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