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JABSOM Courses

Native Hawaiian Health

John A. Burns School of Medicine
677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1016B
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 587-8570
Web: jabsom.hawaii.edu/departments/dnhh

Faculty

J. K. Kaholokula, PhD (Chair)—behavioral scientist, clinical health psychologist
K. Blaisdell, MD—emeritus professor
S. K. Brady, MD, MPH—internal medicine, biostatistics-epidemiology
D. Carpenter, MD—internal medicine, clinical teaching, cultural competence
M. Corley, PhD—biomedical science, epigenomics
C. Harris, MBA—business management, post baccalaureate education
S. Fernandes, MD—pediatrics, student recruitment and retention
C. Ha, PhD—biochemistry, post baccalaureate education
N. Judd, PhD—emeritus professor
M. Kamaka, MD—family medicine, cultural competence
S. Kaulukukui, MS—faculty and student development
M. S. Lee, MD—family medicine, student recruitment and retention
M. Mau, MD, MS—health disparities, Myron Pinky Thompson Endowed Chair
A. Maunakea, PhD—biomedical science, epigenomics
W. K. Mesiona-Lee, MD—pediatrics, post baccalaureate education, student recruitment and retention
R. Miyamoto, PsyD—behavioral science, clinical health psychology
K. Sakamoto, MS—post baccalaureate education, student development
P. M. Tim Sing, MD—internal medicine, post baccalaureate education
S. Tsuhako, MD—anatomy and reproductive biology, post baccalaureate education
K. Voloch, MD—pediatrics, post baccalaureate education
V. Wong, MD—family medicine, faculty and student development

The Academic Program

The mission of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health is to be a center of excellence in education, research, and quality health care practices committed to the optimal health and wellness of Hawai'i Maoli, their families, and communities that embraces traditional Hawaiian values and practices. To accomplish this mission, the program will actively seek "grass-roots" partnerships with others in the community who share their vision of Ku Pono: Hawai'i Maoli achieving optimal health and wellness.

Research efforts will be focused on reducing and eliminating health disparities in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific-based populations. This includes activities such as conducting hypothesis driven research, developing pilot studies, training new researchers and networking with Native Hawaiian communities to disseminate research information via the Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research, the Heart Failure Disparities in Native Hawaiians Study, the PILI 'Ohana Obesity study, and other NIH funded grants.

Two programs are dedicated to increasing and improving the health workforce serving Hawai'i, especially in Native Hawaiian communities: the 'Imi Ho'ôla Post-Baccalaureate Program and the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence.

Imi Ho‘ola Post-Baccalaureate Program

'Imi Ho'ôla (Hawaiian for "those who seek to heal") is a post-baccalaureate program designed to provide educational opportunities to students from disadvantaged backgrounds capable of succeeding in medical school. Although 'Imi Ho'ôla is not limited to persons of Hawaiian, Filipino, Samoan, Chamorro, and Micronesian descent, a large number of these students have been able to demonstrate that they are from a disadvantaged socioeconomic and/or educational background and have demonstrated a commitment to serve areas of need in Hawai'i and the Pacific. 'Imi Ho'ôla has expanded its outreach efforts and developed partnerships with local high schools, colleges, and community-based health organizations.

Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE)

NHCOE is funded through state, federal, and private funds and focuses on: (1) Enhancing the performance of Native Hawaiian medical students by offering support for USMLE board preparation and collaboration with JABSOM retention efforts; (2) Developing the research and teaching skills of Native Hawaiian faculty by offering one- to two-year fellowships; (3) Addressing information resources by developing Native Hawaiian health resources, cultural competency, and curricula through conferences and workshops; (4) Focusing research by offering an elective for first year medical students on introducing research and topics of Native Hawaiian health issues; (5) Promoting student training in rural areas by serving as a resource for students choosing to do electives in rural Native Hawaiian communities; and (6) Developing a competitive applicant pool through active involvement in the establishment of collaborative efforts with colleges and high schools to develop programs aimed at increasing the numbers of Native Hawaiian medical students.

NHH Courses