THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I MANOA -
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
60TH ANNIVERSARY
ACROSS THE PACIFIC SCIENCE MATTERS
Co-Editors-In-Chief
Matthew Campbell Director of Communications
Deborah Dimaya
Associate Director of Communications
Julie Inouye
Executive Director of Development
Aaron Mandich
Associate Director of Development
Christie Leidholm Tina Nixx
Vina Cristobal Chief Multimedia Content Producer
Match Day, page 13
Dean Sam Shomaker, page 1
Maveric Abella, Alumni, page 20
Message from the Dean
Aswe begin the new year, JABSOM celebrates 60 years of healing together, through science, health, and community in harmony.
For six decades, we’ve spread our roots throughout the world and have stood as a beacon of excellence in medical education and research as we train the next generation of physicians. Together, we have shaped the future of healthcare in Hawai‘i, transforming countless lives along the way.
Over the years, we’ve not only built a tradition of academic rigor and clinical expertise but also fostered a community bound by a shared commitment to compassion, innovation, and service to others. From our founding in 1965, to the many milestones we celebrate today, each chapter in our history has been written by the dedication and passion of our faculty, students, staff, and alumni.
As we look back on the achievements of the past 60 years, we also look forward to a future filled with new challenges, discoveries, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact at home and across the globe. We honor those who laid the foundation for the success we enjoy today, and we remain inspired by the next generation of healthcare leaders who will continue to carry our mission forward.
Mahalo for being a part of this incredible journey. In the pages to come, we will look back at the last year, but also the last 60 years. Let us take this moment to celebrate our shared legacy, reflect on our accomplishments, and renew our commitment to advancing the field of medicine for generations to come.
Mahalo for your continued support and partnership,
T. Samuel Shomaker, MD, JD, MSM, Dean Barry & Virginia Weinman Endowed Chair Class of 1986
Mahalo
to the Veith History of Medicine Fund
The JABSOM Lens is a snapshot of everything that’s happened in the medical school over the last 12 months. Whether you are a JABSOM alumni, faculty, staff or supporter, you are part of our ‘ohana, and the Lens keeps us connected. The Lens and other JABSOM milestones would not be possible without the support of Ilza Veith, PhD. Veith enjoyed friendships with some of JABSOM’s forefathers, including
Drs. Kekuni Blaisdell, Yoshio Oda and Charles S. Judd, Jr. Dr. Judd earned a master’s degree in medical history after studying with Veith.
Veith, who often visited Hawai‘i, made a bequest in memory of her friend, Dr. Judd to start the Veith History of Medicine Fund. Following Veith’s passions, this fund brings JABSOM’s history of medicine to life through lectures and media. It keeps her memory alive as we continue to chronicle the people and accomplishments that make our medical school unique and share these stories with an audience that extends beyond the walls of our school.
60th ANNIVERSARY
JABSOM has come a long way since its founding 60 years ago. What began as a two-year basic medical sciences program has evolved into a four-year medical school with its own campus in Kaka‘ako. Over the last decade, JABSOM has experienced remarkable growth, enhancing its reputation both nationally and within the community. The school has been recognized as a Tier One Medical School for Primary Care education by US News and World Report.
While students from Hawai‘i have always excelled, this greater visibility on a national scale grants them access to some of the best residency and fellowship training programs in the country. In the past three years, JABSOM has also expanded opportunities for physician training on neighbor islands at both the medical school and residency/ fellowship levels.
Research has continued to flourish, with JABSOM seeing a 28% increase in research awards—from $43.7 million in 2018 to over $60 million in 2024. Additionally, the last decade marked the retirement of Dean Jerris Hedges after 15 years of service. The leadership baton was passed to Sam Shomaker, MD, JD, MSM in 2024. He is JABSOM’s sixth dean and the first alumnus to hold this position.
We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone in October 2025 . All of the events are on the back cover of the Lens. Dr. Angela Pratt and Dr. Ryon Nakasone are our 60th Anniversary co-chairs.
I hope to see the school continue to expand and reach new heights in the realm of medical education and research. I want to see JABSOM thrive and continue to produce top quality graduates who will go on to do amazing things!
“
~ Dr. Ryon Nakasone
1965 JABSOM launches as a two-year program at Leʻāhi Hospital
1971JABSOM relocates to UH Mānoa
1973 JABSOM becomes a fullyaccredited, four-year program. The ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program begins as a pre-medical enrichment program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
1989 Dean Chris Gulbrandsen introduces the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model to JABSOMʻs curriculum
1996 Longitudinal clerkships expand to Neighbor Islands
1997Cumulina, worldʻs first mouse cloned from an adult somatic cell
2000 JABSOMʻs Institute for Biogenesis Research (IBR) founded
2002 JABSOM and state leadership does groundbreaking for Kakaʻako campus
2005 JANUARY
JABSOM opens its Kakaʻako campus
2005
AUGUST
Hawaiʻi HOME Project launches, providing clinical care to houseless communities and clinical experience for medical students
2010
JABSOM expands incoming class size from 62 to 77 students
2011 JABSOM developed the Rural Health Program to help provide early and substantial rural training experiences for its medical students in hopes of generating more rural healthcare providers
2020 The JABSOM Tropical Medicine Clinical Laboratory (TMCL) was established in April 2020 to support Hawaiʻi COVID-19 pandemic response efforts.
2025
JABSOM celebrates its 60th anniversary
Dr. Keawe Kaholokula elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Joseph Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, PhD, Professor and Department Chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, is the lone active faculty member representing the University of Hawai‘i in the National Academy of Medicine.
The NAM is one of three academies operating under the 1863 Congressional Charter of the National Academies, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the United States. These Academies advise governing bodies on matters of science, technology and health.
NAM Inductees were elected through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.
Kaholokula is believed to be the first Native Hawaiian elected to the National Academy of Medicine. The NAM cites Dr. Kaholokula for “pioneering evidence-based interventions using Indigenous cultural values and practices to improve cardiovascular, diabetes, and obesity disparities for thousands of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NH/PI). He spans science and practice, provides direction to health care systems serving NH/PI, advocates for NH/PI, and develops NH/PI scientists.”
“I understand it to be one of the highest honors for a scientist in the U.S. and a recognition of not just the quality of their research and the impact of their research, but the service on a national level when it comes to influencing policy and health care in our communities,” Kaholokula said.
Kaholokula’s election to the NAM makes him the lone active UH member in this exclusive club. Suzanne P. Murphy, PhD, RD, a retired UH Cancer Center Researcher, was elected in 2010. Dean Emeritus Jerris Hedges, MD, was elected in 2000. Chien-Wen Tseng, MD, was elected in 2022.
“Dr. Kaholokula’s election to the National Academy of Medicine is a groundbreaking moment for the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the Native Hawaiian community. Through his community-engaged research, culturally grounded interventions, and community-based
representation,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “Keawe has fought to uncover health disparities in Native Hawaiians, and his work will profoundly impact disease prevention in this population for generations to come.”
While Kaholokula feels privileged to join this exclusive club, he sees this achievement as an opportunity to continue the important, trailblazing work he’s done over the last three decades. “It’s an opportunity to have a seat at the table. It’s an opportunity to ensure that our community’s voices are recognized and heard when it comes to national policies and practices around health care and public health,” Kaholokula said. “I think the most important aspect of this election to the National Academy of Medicine is that it opens the door for other Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders to serve and have a seat at the table in this way. I know that’s a huge kuleana, so it’s something I don’t take lightly.”
Dr. Keawe Kaholokula was nominated to the NAM by Dr. Spero Manson
ACROSS THE PACIFIC
Stories of Survival: Hawai‘i to Zero Conference
There are seven patients in the world who have been cured of HIV, and the Hawai‘i to Zero Conference was proud to host three of them: Adam Castillejo, Marc Franke, and Paul Edmonds.
Castillejo, from London, was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012. He underwent a vigorous chemotherapy regimen for years while being denied a bone marrow transplant
due to his HIV diagnosis.
Eventually, things looked up for Castillejo. A new medical team stepped in and allowed him to have the transplant he needed. The operation proved successful, and in 2016, Castillejo was confirmed to be cured of HIV.
Edmonds, from California, lived with HIV for more than 30 years. He witnessed the beginning of the epidemic in the 1980s and how it plagued his community. Edmonds was diagnosed in 1988 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2018. His doctors suggested he seek treatment at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA. There, his stem cell transplant donor had a genetic mutation that prevents HIV/AIDS, which led to
his eventual cure in 2022.
Franke, who is from Germany, has lived with HIV since January 2011 and was also diagnosed with AML. He learned about Timothy Ray Brown, the first patient in the world to be cured of HIV/AIDS. Franke, who met his now-husband in the same year and was encouraged by Brown’s story, felt hopeful about receiving treatment.
The Hawai‘i to Zero Conference was created as a way for those living with HIV and/or AIDS to share their stories while learning how researchers are working towards a cure. The three speakers, delivering their personal stories, may have made for one of the most powerful conferences in its fiveyear history.
“We want to give hope to people living with HIV today,” Castillejo said.
“Don’t allow HIV to define you. I know it’s difficult, but people around the world are trying to find a cure for you out there. Stay strong and be positive.”
JABSOM researchers bring new cervical cancer screenings to USAPI
The U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) have higher cervical cancer rates and lower screening coverage compared with the U.S. That’s why the Pacific Against Cervical Cancer (PACe) team, including Dr. Neal Palafox and many from JABSOM’s Family Medicine program, is aiming to make cervical testing more efficient in remote and rural areas of the USAPI. PACe aims to increase screenings in the USAPI and they entered Guam and Yap armed with new screening methods that aren’t widely used in the U.S.
“There are new methods of screening now that are based on molecular DNA testing of the virus that causes cervical cancer,” Palafox said. “We know that the human papillomavirus causes 99 percent of cervical cancer, so using a molecular test the same way you test for COVID, we can test for HPV.”
Screening for HPV is not as cumbersome as going in for a Pap smear, and Palafox hopes this can boost cervical cancer screenings in the areas that need it the most.
USAPI trains health workers on new screenings
“This is a new technology, and testing for HPV is a much more efficient way of ruling out cervical cancer,” Palafox said. “If you test a person for HPV and if they don’t have it, we can rule out cervical cancer. If they do have it, it pushes them into a very high-risk profile, and we can go forward from there.”
Adam Castillejo, Marc Franke and Paul Edmonds shared their stories of overcoming HIV
Opportunities for Neighbor Island students abound at JABSOM
Mary Joy “MJ” Velasquez and Mabea De Guzman are both from Maui and know what it’s like to fly to Honolulu for medical care.
“I had to come to O‘ahu many times during my childhood just to receive medical care that wasn’t readily available on Maui,” Velasquez said.
As the 2023 Hawai‘i Physician Workforce Report details a 43% shortage of specialty physicians on Maui, Velasquez dreams of becoming an MD specialist to help reduce that gap for families like hers. She and De Guzman are two of 82 high school students enrolled in a weeklong experience known as the “Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Summer Program” at JABSOM. The program provides hands-on learning opportunities at JABSOM for students in grades 10-12 interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
“I really enjoyed problem-based learning (PBL)- I feel like that would eventually help me out in the future because thinking like a doctor now will help build me up as a doctor in the future,” said De Guzman.
The Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Summer Program is open to students from all islands, but via generous donors, the Neighbor Island Medical Scholars Program funds travel, room and board for nine neighbor island students.
“I liked the tours, doing PBL and also getting to know the other people more,” said De Guzman. She hopes to one day be the first in her family to attend a U.S. college and eventually become a cardiothoracic surgeon. “Growing up (on Maui), the doctors there– they were mainly the reason I wanted to become a doctor,” she said.
Another program aimed at youth and neighbor island outreach is Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks program. This program brings dozens of students from Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and Maui to JABSOM to get a first-hand, day-
We
took their vitals
and stuff. That was super cool. It makes me super excited and makes me want to jump out to my goals.
“
long look at what being a medical student entails.
“I hear my mom talk a lot about how much we need physicians, especially after the losses of Dr. Aluli and Dr. Thomas. It’s a big need,” said Logan Oshiro, a student at Moloka‘i High School. “People need help, and there’s not enough people helping.”
During their day at JABSOM, the STEMworks students tried reviving a SimTiki “patient,” practiced their suturing skills, and learned how to take and read vital signs. Exiting the SimTiki lab, Oshiro left inspired.
“We took their vitals and stuff. That was super cool. It makes me super excited and makes me want to jump out to my goals.”
Logan Oshiro gets her blood pressure taken during an interactive demonstration
Hawai‘i study reveals increasing microplastics in placentas
Anew study by JABSOM researchers and the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children (KMCWC) found a rising presence of microplastic particles in placentas donated by postpartum women who delivered in Hawai‘i from 2006 to 2021.
“We were shocked that these little pieces of plastic were getting across the mom’s gut and landing in the placenta,” said
Dr. Men-Jean Lee, JABSOM scientist and obstetrician at the Hawai‘i Pacific Health KMCWC. She, along with Drs. Rodrigo Weingrill and Johann Urschitz from the UH Mānoa Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research co-authored the study.
In 2006, six of the ten placentas that were collected contained microplastics. In 2013, nine of the ten contained microplastics. By 2021, all ten placentas studied contained microplastics.
“We believe that the plastics may be floating around in food or being inhaled. It’s coming through our digestive fluids or lungs, and the particles are getting absorbed through the gut, traveling through the bloodstream, and then somehow collecting in the placenta
during pregnancy,” Dr. Lee said.
This rise in microplastics corresponds with the skyrocketing levels of global plastic production, which grew from less than 2,000 megatons produced in 2000 to more than 6,000 megatons in 2020, according to the Journal of Hazardous Materials. Lee believes the state’s remote location creates an added dependency on plastic and that our tropical location and lack of recycling centers can exacerbate how these plastics are breaking down.
“The incineration of garbage, landfills, and marine pollution affects our communities. When trash is being burned, dust particles are released and can spread into the air we breathe,” Dr. Lee said.
The next step is determining if microplastics can penetrate the placenta and affect the fetus before birth. “The big question is, as it’s traveling through the placenta, can it get through the umbilical cord and then to the baby? We don’t know that right now,” Dr. Lee said.
Decades of work results in R01 award
Whenthe state built the JABSOM Kaka‘ako campus in 2005, Dr. Matthew Pitts was just a graduate student in the cell and molecular biology department, hoping, like all researchers, to one day receive an R01 grant.
“This is the standard grant milestone needed to be considered an established investigator by the National Institutes of Health,” said Pitts, one of few who remain from the beginning days of JABSOM at the Kaka‘ako campus.
The dream he entered with is now being realized: Pitts was awarded an R01 grant for his research on selenium in the brain and how it’s affected by methylmercury. This research could have implications for FDA guidelines around mercury and seafood.
“This grant will allow us to investigate the effects of prolonged, subtoxic methylmercury exposure on brain development and behavior using a rodent model,” said Pitts. The focus will be on a specific type of brain cell called parvalbumin-expressing interneurons, which
Dr. Matthew Pitts
are sensitive to damage from stress and are linked to mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
Image showing a microplastic found in a placenta
Gene therapy gets a turbo boost
For decades, scientists have dreamt of a future where genetic diseases, such as the blood clotting disorder hemophilia, could be a thing of the past. Gene therapy, the idea of fixing faulty genes with healthy ones, has held immense promise. However, a major hurdle has been finding a safe and efficient way to deliver those genes.
JABSOM scientists have made a significant breakthrough in gene editing technology that could revolutionize how we treat genetic diseases. Their new method offers a faster, safer, and more efficient way to deliver healthy genes into the body, potentially leading to treatments for hundreds of conditions. While current methods can fix errors in genes, they can also cause unintended damage by creating breaks in the DNA. Additionally, they struggle to insert large chunks of genetic material, such as whole genes.
The new technique, developed by Dr. Jesse Owens along with his team of Dr. Brian Hew, Dr. Ryuei Sato, and Sabranth Gupta from JABSOM’s Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research and Cell and Molecular Biology Department, addresses these limitations.
“It’s like having a ‘paste’ function for the human genome,” said Owens. “It uses specially engineered ‘integrases’ to carefully insert healthy
genes into the exact location needed, without causing breaks in the DNA. This method is much more efficient, with success rates of up to 96% in some cases.”
“This could lead to faster and more affordable treatments for a wide range of diseases, potentially impacting hundreds of conditions with a single faulty gene,” said Owens.
Renewed NIH funding allows diabetes research to continue serving Hawai‘i
While diabetes is an epidemic in the United States, the burden weighs heavily in Hawai‘i as 10 percent of our population is living with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes
Association (ADA). Meanwhile, the ADA reports that 37% of the population in Hawai‘i is living with pre-diabetes. With nearly half of our adult population impacted by diabetes in some way, JABSOM created the Diabetes Research Center (DRC) to perform cuttingedge research on a disease that impacts so many locally. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Phase 1 of the research in 2017 for $11.3 million and renewed the grant with $11.7 million for another five years.
When the NIH first funded the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE),
JABSOM created the Diabetes Research Center. Using cell and animal models, researchers conducted experiments to understand the mechanisms of how diabetes and pre-diabetes develop. The grant also allowed JABSOM, UH Cancer Center and UH Mānoa College of Engineering to train five young investigators who have remained in Hawai‘i and continue researching and teaching. Phase 2 of the Diabetes Research Center will focus on complications from diabetes.
Scan to read more about specific studies at the DRC
L to R: Dr. Mariana Gerschenson, Dr. Olivier Le Saux, and Dr. Marjorie Mau
Dr. Jesse Owens in his lab
Study links health, environment to accelerated aging in Native Hawaiians
Typically, age is associated with the year we are born, but what if factors like health, diet, exercise, occupation and education level could provide a better picture?
A groundbreaking UH Mānoa study discovered that Native Hawaiians experience higher accelerated biological aging than White and Japanese American residents. The study also found that living in low socioeconomic neighborhoods is linked to accelerated biological aging across ethnicities, though healthy life experiences can offer protection.
“Despite living in socioeconomically poorer neighborhoods, individuals who engaged in higher physical activity, had a higher level of education attainment, and healthier diets tended to have closer to normal biological aging, which was independently associated with lower BMI and lower risk for diabetes,” said lead author Alika Maunakea, PhD, a Native Hawaiian professor of epigenetics and health disparities researcher at
JABSOM. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (July 2024)
Biological aging refers to the gradual deterioration of cellular and physiological functions over time, reflecting the body’s true age at a molecular and cellular level, which may differ from chronological age. Known as “DNA methylation,” this epigenetic process can be measured in blood cells to determine if a person is aging slower or faster than their actual years, the latter of which may correspond to health issues. Maunakea and his team analyzed DNA samples from 376 participants in the UH Cancer Center’s ongoing multiethnic cohort.
all-cause mortality among all other ethnic groups. Maunakea hopes this study sheds light on biological mechanisms that help explain the origins of health disparities in Native Hawaiians to better address them.
Native Hawaiians have a higher risk for and an earlier age of onset of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers compared to all other major ethnic groups in Hawai‘i, as well as the highest
“Results of this study have significant public health implications and can help shape health policy,” Maunakea said. “To me, the results are further proof that lifestyle matters to health and that as individuals, we can do something about it… This gives me hope that we can, in my lifetime, improve the overall health and wellbeing of our lāhui.”
T32 grant renewal fuels the next generation of cardiovascular scientists
Training the next generation of cardiovascular researchers will continue at the UH medical school as investigators in the Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR) have renewed
their National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant. The CCR’s goal is to train scientists in the powerful new technologies of cellular and molecular biology to advance our understanding of cardiac biology and disease. The CCR has accomplished just that in the last decade, supporting 28 researchers.
“Many of the trainees have obtained their own independent funding,” said Michelle Tallquist, PhD, director of this cycle of the T32. “We’re proud to report that about half of our trainees have obtained funding while still on the T32, which reopens slots for new trainees.”
Dr. Jonathan Yap is a product of the CCR’s T32 grant. Yap, a Native Hawaiian researcher, started as an intern in Dr. William Boisvert’s lab and, through the T32, learned how to write and apply for grants. Last year, he received an NIH K99-R00 grant, which allowed him to become an independent investigator and develop his own lab.
“Dr. Yap has overcome the most devastating kinds of limitations you can imagine. He is a great example of the value of the T32,” said Dr. Ralph Shohet, Director of the CCR.
Traditionally decorated kīhei and lei
Dr. Malina Ivey is just one of 28 CCR research trainees throughout the years
Kyoto Prize goes to Dr. Ryuzo Yanagimachi, posthumously
2023 was set to be a big year for the late Dr. Ryuzo Yanagimachi. Known as the “Father of IVF” and the founder of the UH JABSOM Institute for Biogenesis Research which now holds his name, Yanagimachi was honored with the prestigious Kyoto Prize in Biotechnology and Medical Technology, thought to be the Japanese equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
Presented by the Inamori Foundation, the Kyoto Prize is Japan’s highest private award for lifetime achievement in the arts and sciences. The Inamori Foundation visited Hawai‘i to produce a celebratory video ahead of the award ceremony in November. Sadly, Dr. Yanagimachi died a month after reaching his 95th birthday and received the Kyoto Prize posthumously.
Kyoto Prize recipients give speeches at three different venues: the grand ceremony in Kyoto, the University of Oxford, and the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Steven Ward, who was recruited by Dr. Yanagimachi and has served as the director of the IBR since 2009, spoke on behalf of his mentor.
“I had known the man for 28 years and worked side by side with him every day
for 23. He had 50 years of science and published 400 papers,” Ward said. “I could have spent a week talking about what he did and what he contributed to the field.”
Tasked with condensing decades of breakthroughs into one speech, Ward instead remembered his mentor with an oral history composed of personal stories and information gleaned from “Life in Science” articles that Yanagimachi wrote over the years.
One of the biggest surprises may be that Yanagimachi’s reason for exploring IVF wasn’t intended as a clinical breakthrough. His initial goal was to observe fertilization under a microscope—a curiosity that profoundly impacted reproductive science. Little did he know that his research pulled the UH medical school from the brink of closure.
“It pushed Governor Cayetano to try to develop what we have now in Kaka‘ako. He dreamed of developing a research triangle park where people would love to come to Hawai‘i to do research. All of that came about because of Yana’s acclaim for cloning.
He cloned 50 mice, and he cloned clones of clones. That brought fame to Hawai‘i as a biomedical research center, and all the talk about closing the school disappeared. Yana probably saved the medical school,” said Ward.
As a way to never forget the impact Dr. Yanagimachi made, the Institute of Biogenesis Research has been named in his honor.
MIND Hawai‘i cultivates innovation, collaboration
Hawai‘i Schools of Medicine, Business, Engineering and Law. Each year, they form small groups and design and develop innovations to help build solutions to challenging medical problems. Some of the ideas shared in 2024 included a device that would help reduce rates of dislodgement in Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes, a portal to optimize geriatric care in Hawai‘i and a bio-wearable ultrasound patch for simplified, continuous blood pressure monitoring for geriatric patients. Faculty advisors, including JABSOM Professors Russell Woo, MD, and Peter Di Rocco, MD, play a crucial role in making MIND Hawai‘i a success.
The late Dr. Ryuzo Yanagimachi
The MIND (Medical Innovation and Design) Hawai‘i fosters collaboration between students from the University of
The group at MIND Hawaiʻi 2024
JABSOM Love Story: From CMB students to Drs. Shontell
Studying in the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Program at the University of Hawai‘i and exploring the building blocks of life, they never expected that in just a few years, they would both graduate from JABSOM with their PhDs, becoming Drs. Shontell.
That’s doctors, plural: husband and wife.
Ryan Shontell walked into the Biomedical Sciences Building at the JABSOM in 2018, eager to begin his graduate studies. But when he walked into his CMB622 class, he didn’t expect to meet and fall head over heels with the woman who would become his future wife.
Ruth (Taketa) Shontell was a second-year master’s student.
Even after only a few dates, Ruth said they both knew that they wanted to create a future together; it was just a matter of when. Ryan proposed in the JABSOM Māla Lā‘au Lapa‘au, right outside of the BSB, where they first met.
They tied the knot in December 2022 before defending their PhD dissertations in 2023.
Ruth says it’s been a wonderful adventure to be able to support each other as they continue to pursue their respective passions.
“I think that earning our PhDs at the same time really strengthened our relationship because we could understand our commitments and time organization. Even as he is working towards his MD, it’s quite nice. We’re used to communicating our schedules and what free time we do have to spend with each other,” Ruth said.
Drs. Ryan and Ruth Shontell had an engagement shoot in the BSB lab, where they first met
Currently, Ryan is a second-year medical student at JABSOM and is originally from the small town of Kohala on Hawai‘i Island.
“My hope as a medical student is to reach out into our rural communities and get more Native Hawaiian kids interested in medicine. It’s not something I had a lot of exposure to growing up,” Ryan said.
He hopes to provide underserved children in rural communities with more exposure to medicine and healthcare careers so that they are aware of the opportunities available and careers out there.
As far as their accomplishments go and as wide as their aspirations soar, the couple remain grounded and down to earth while
being each other’s cheerleaders.
“If it wasn’t for JABSOM and the CMB Program, we wouldn’t have met,” Ryan said.
“It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime happenstance type of thing. If either of us took a different journey or path, we wouldn’t have met, so it was truly special that we ended up at the same place, at the same time and at the right time, I think,” said Ruth. “That’s why JABSOM is so special to us. The CMB Program is special, and this whole campus is very special to us. We had so many memories here, studied a lot, got engaged here, and took our engagement photos here.”
Ryan added, “And we’re still here. We’ll be here for a little bit longer.”
If it wasn’t for JABSOM and the CMB Program, we wouldn’t have met. “ “
A grandfather’s journey to JABSOM
Many medical students are in their mid-20s when they start at JABSOM, but MS1 candidate Tony Head’s exciting and circuitous journey to JABSOM started when many of his peers weren’t even born.
Head enrolled at Leeward Community College in 2000 and graduated with a liberal arts degree in 2008, all while working full-time and raising a family.
“When I started college, I couldn’t drop everything and focus on school, so it just took a long time for me to get where I am,” he said.
Head, now 49, has four adult children and became a grandfather in June 2023.
While Head’s path to medicine was unconventional, a tragedy during his first year at LCC sparked his passion for medicine.
“My mom passed away from cancer in early 2000. She was getting treated for myelodysplastic syndrome, and she had a low platelet count, so she was getting platelet transfusion,” Head said. “One night, during an appointment where she was having these transfusions, she ended up having a brain hemorrhage during the night and then passed away the next day. What happened to my mom pushed me to want to find answers to kind of cell-based questions and do research there,” he said. Head started off at UH Mānoa, majoring
in Molecular Biology. After graduating, he completed the Master’s program, and then applied to JABSOM, all while balancing a growing family.
“Part of the decision to kind of go to school part-time instead of full-time was to dedicate myself to being a good parent, father and husband at home,” Head said. “That was the priority for me. I hope that inspires my children to want to do well for themselves. I hope that if they get anything out of what they see in me, they should keep going and pursue the thing they love in life and never quit.”
JABSOM graduate students and faculty honored at 2024 ARCS Awards
JABSOM’s
Alika Maunakea, PhD, was named 2024 Scientist of the Year by the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation for his groundbreaking work in epigenetics. Maunakea, JABSOM professor of anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology and leading epigeneticist, seeks to understand the gene-environment interactions that underlie the development of diseases caused by health disparities.
“I think it is a great honor, especially from my humble beginnings growing up in Nanakuli in a multigenerational household where I was inspired by my family and their work in the community,” Dr. Maunakea said. “This award is just part of their legacy, as well as all the mentors and supporters I met along the way. It is not just honoring me personally, but
I think it is really about the work that we’re doing and the origins of all that.”
Maunakea was not the only JABSOM ARCS awardee.
Thomas Ken Awamura and Hongwen Wu are conducting research that will have a meaningful impact on the people of Hawai‘i and beyond. Awamura is studying immune cell proteins for HIV management and long-COVID risks. Wu is researching ovarian development to improve women’s health care.
Tony Head and family in the early 2000s
Tony and family today
An evening at ARCS, JABSOM winners along with faculty stand together on the shores of Waikiki
Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation powers ‘Imi grad through JABSOM
‘Imi
Ho‘ōla PostBaccalaureate Program celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, and it was at the celebration event that JABSOM 2027 student Mitch Cadiz learned he received The Clarence T.C. Ching Scholarship.
“I was really happy when I
found out,” Cadiz said.
The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation’s first philanthropic effort at JABSOM is the scholarship, which is given to an ‘Imi Ho‘ōla graduate who has successfully matriculated to JABSOM. It entails a full-ride scholarship and the student’s commitment to stay in Hawai‘i to practice.
The scholarship is a full-circle moment for Cadiz, a firstgeneration student growing up in Kalihi who often had to act as the translator for his grandmother during her doctor’s visits. He noticed the lack of Filipino physicians in his community and the disparities in the Filipino community, which propelled him to pursue medicine.
“In Kalihi, especially, there are a lot of doctors that are going to be retiring,” he noted.
“So, if we don’t fill in that gap, who’s going to take care of the
immigrant communities here?”
Cadiz attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with the initial goal of becoming a nurse, but that changed in his final year of nursing school.
“I got to work with the doctors, and I realized I wanted to do what they do,” Cadiz said. Cadiz later realized his aspiration to become a doctor after completing his nursing degree. He worked full-time as a cardiac telemetry nurse at Kaiser Hospital while taking pre-med classes at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted his plans to enter medical school, among other challenges he faced during that time.
“ ‘Imi Ho‘ōla prepared me for the rigor of medical school, molding me into the most wellrounded future physician that each patient deserves,” he said. Cadiz learned about The
JABSOM student explores Low-T and mortality
MS3
student Ayumi Sakamoto’s research on low testosterone’s relation to total mortality in the Asian-American population brought her to center stage at the American Geriatrics Society conference last year.
“We were able to see that FOXO3 mitigates the effects of having low testosterone on mortality. While we were able to find that Asian Americans
who had lower levels of testosterone tended to have higher rates of total mortality, people who had low testosterone but with the good copy of the FOXO3 gene didn’t succumb to these effects.”
The novel research done here in Hawai‘i earned Sakamoto the honor of being the plenary speaker at the conference.
“I was humbled that they chose our project out of all those submitted this year,” Sakamoto said. “People are very curious about our project because it’s novel research. I don’t think anyone has ever really looked at the relationship between the FOXO3 gene and testosterone levels and mortality,” Sakamoto said.
Clarence T.C. Ching scholarship in his first semester of medical school. Realizing it aligned with his desire to remain in Hawai‘i to practice medicine, he applied.
“I had all the chances to move to the mainland for better job opportunities as a nurse, but I was worried that I might not return, so I decided to stay in Hawai‘i to fulfill my promise of giving back to my community,” he said. “It ties back to the main purpose of my story, as a kid of immigrants from the Philippines.”
Cadiz also attributes his purpose of becoming a doctor to his faith in God.
“Without God or my church family, I wouldn’t have made it without their encouragement. I’m sure God has a greater purpose for me to be a physician and to inspire someone one day to be a physician so they can continue on that legacy.”
Ayumi Sakamoto represented JABSOM as the plenary speaker at the AGS Conference
Mitch Cadiz celebrates completing ʻImi Hoʻōla
MD 2024 Class Specialty Roundup
As Hawaiʻi grapples with a physician shortage, more than half of our students chose much-needed primary care specialties of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics. A whopping 16 matched to a Pediatrics program!
This was the highest number of pediatric residents coming from JABSOM in the last fifteen years, which will increase the care for keiki in Hawai‘i.
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Scan here to see more Match Day photos
2 ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY of JABSOM’s MD Class of 2024 matched into a residency program.
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5 PSYCHIATRY
4 EMERGENCY
2
1 ANESTHESIOLOGY
1 PATHOLOGY
1
1 UROLOGY
Arakawa family’s generous gift helps strengthen Department of Medicine
Alongside philanthropic leaders like Dr. Thomas Whelan (Surgery) and Dr. Thomas Kosasa (OB-GYN), JABSOM celebrates the Arakawas’ contribution as the first named chair for the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Ken Arakawa (JABSOM MD 1982) and his wife, Gemie Arakawa (1979 JABSOM Med Tech graduate), were recognized for their significant gift to support the JABSOM Department of Medicine, helping to attract and retain top faculty and residents to address the physician shortage.
“I personally see the huge need on
the neighbor islands,” said Ken, a rheumatologist who regularly travels to Hilo and Līhu‘e to provide specialized care. “JABSOM gave me the opportunity to become a physician and give back. This gift is our way of returning to our roots and supporting future students, residents, and faculty.”
The endowed chair brings long-term stability to the department, ensuring resilience through economic shifts. Current Chair Scott Kuwada, MD, said
The Arakawas were honored for creating the first endowed chair within the JABSOM Department of Medicine
the generous endowment will help sustain and grow the department’s impact.
Gift propels high-impact microplastic, maternal-fetal health research
As concerns over microplastic pollution in the Pacific continue to mount, JABSOM is dedicated to researching this problem. This year, Dr. Thomas Kosasa made a significant investment to support JABSOM’s Hawaiʻi Reproductive Biorepository.
In November 2023, JABSOM researchers made a groundbreaking discovery: microplastic particles were found in the placentas of women who gave birth in Hawai‘i. Women who had donated their placentas to the Hawai‘i Reproductive Biorepository (HRBR) over the years from births at the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for
Women & Children made this significant finding possible.
As concerns over microplastic pollution in the Pacific grow, investigators like Drs. Men-Jean Lee, MD; Rodrigo Weingrill, PhD; and Johann Urschitz, PhD, continue innovative research to address these issues.
In June 2024, Dr. Thomas Kosasa invested a generous $250,000 to support JABSOM’s HRBR Fund.
Founded in 2003 with support from Dr. Kosasa and his brother, Paul, the HRBR initially focused on genetic testing to identify high-risk pregnancies. Over time, it grew into the NIH-sponsored Pacific Research Center for Early Human Development’s Biobank, now housing over 9,000 diverse specimens and recognized as the most racially diverse mother/baby biorepository in the U.S.
With this generous donation from Dr. Kosasa, Drs. Lee, Weingrill, and Urschitz will be able to take the next step in the research as they investigate whether microplastic particles can pierce the protection of the placenta and enter the fetus before birth. For more information on this research, please refer to the article on page 6.
JABSOM grads give back to the foundation that brought them together
Dr. Ronald “Ron” Morton (JABSOM MD 1984 & BS Med Tech 1976) reflects on his life with his late wife, Kathleen “Kathy,” in one sentence: “I wouldn’t be here today, in the role that I’m in, if it wasn’t for her.”
Ron’s path began at UH Mānoa long ago, where he discovered his passion for medicine through the Medical Technology Program, which he completed in 1976. During an internship at St. Francis Medical Center in Liliha, he discovered an even greater love. Kathy, a 1974 JABSOM Med Tech graduate, was working in the immunology department and later became an instructor.
“We started chatting at work, and our relationship blossomed,” Ron recalled. “I think the people around us thought, ‘Oh yeah, that’ll last a year or two.’ But no, it lasted quite a bit longer.”
The couple, who shared nearly 45 years of marriage, worked together at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, where Ron became the hematology supervisor and Kathy led the blood bank. When Ron began medical school, Kathy supported their family of five.
Their shared commitment to healthcare inspired the Kathleen K. Morton Memorial Endowment Fund—a scholarship supporting Med Tech students facing financial hurdles. Established in Kathy’s honor after her passing in October 2023, the fund supports students navigating the costs of a medical technology career, especially those balancing family responsibilities with school.
“When I was in medical school, we had Kathy’s parents who
helped out with childcare and things like that,” Ron said. “With this endowment, we could cut back a little bit on some of that stress, especially for the student who may be a single parent, struggling to make a living, working, and trying to go to school.”
This fund, the first of its kind for the department, covers tuition, resources and other essential needs. The scholarship was launched in Fall 2024. “It’s definitely going to be very impactful,” said Interim Department Chair Dr. Karen Thompson, noting the critical shortage of medical technologists nationwide and the challenges of entering the field.
In January 2024, the endowment was officially launched at UH Mānoa’s Biosciences Building, where Ron reconnected with former classmates and toured the classrooms. “We have good memories of this place,” Ron reflected. “We wanted to give back to this department first. This is the foundation that brought us together.”
Starting from the Inside Out
Since its inception 16 years ago, the annual JABSOM Internal Giving Campaign has amassed more than $9 million dollars. Faculty and staff actively contribute to specific areas of the school that hold personal significance, backing over 110 distinct funds within the medical school. To sweeten the deal, their contributions receive matching support, courtesy of executive leadership, including Dean Shomaker and 2024 IGC Co-Chairs Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum and Dr. Ivica Zalud. This year, the campaign reached new heights, securing $1.28 million from 432 faculty and staff donors.
A warm mahalo from Dean Sam, the 2024 IGC Co-Chairs and our school
Dr. Ronald Morton (center) presents a check to the JABSOM Med Tech Program in memory of his wife, Kathleen
Dr. Russell Woo named Associate Dean for Clinical Programs at HPH
JABSOM and Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH) are proud to announce Dr. Russell Woo as the first Associate Dean for Clinical Programs at HPH at the state’s only medical school. In addition, Woo became the chief academic officer for the HPH Medical Group. This new role allowed him to advance the shared vision for academics, including research, at both places. Woo is a key liaison between UH and HPH as he supports and coordinates the research and quality improvement activities of the faculty
providers and learners at HPH and the medical school.
“Since starting at JABSOM in 2009, it’s been an honor to play a role in training some of the best and brightest doctors in Hawai‘i. I take great joy in seeing them grow their clinical skills and make remarkable advances in research,” Dr. Woo said. “Combining my experience at JABSOM and HPH into this new role is exciting, and I hope to continue to advance the goals of both prestigious institutions.”
Dr. Lawrence Burgess retires as Director of Student Affairs
When Dr. Lawrence Burgess graduated from JABSOM in 1980, there was no indication the otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat surgeon) would return to make the widespread and lasting impact he’s had over the last 22 years.
Throughout his 44-year career as a physician, Dr. Burgess held some of the highest positions in the U.S. Army. In 2002, he retired from Tripler Army Medical Center and circled back to JABSOM, where he immediately made an impact as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Burgess was also the director of the Telehealth Research Institute and was ultimately responsible for launching unique simulation training programs like JABSOM’s SimTiki. The full circle moment came seven years ago when he became the Director of Student Affairs.
“Being able to work directly with students again gives closure to your career,” Dr. Burgess said. “You start as a student, and then you go back to helping the students directly to assist them in graduating and preparing for a career as a physician. That’s complete closure in my book. I really enjoyed it.”
Dr. Russell Woo
L to R: Dr. Jill Omori, Dr. Lawrence Burgess, and Dr. Sheri Fong
Welcoming the Department of Native Hawaiian Health Education Division leadership team
Three women are taking the lead in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health’s education division (DNHH). Dr. Kanoho Hosoda is the new Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE) director. Ms. Kimberly Yamauchi has been promoted to Assistant Director of ‘Imi Ho‘ōla and new leadership role as the Interim Director of the ‘Imi Ho‘ōla Post-Baccalaureate Program. Dr. Nanette Judd is the Interim Director of the Medical Education Division and previously served as Professor Emerita and Immediate Past Director of ‘Imi Ho‘ōla. She will also serve as a mentor, a consultant to the Directors and a representative of the Medical Education division at the DNHH Chair’s Executive Council meetings and JABSOM Executive meetings. This DNHH Medical Education Division leadership team will assume Dr. Winona Lee’s roles and responsibilities while she’s on sabbatical until June 2025.
Meet JABSOM’s Chief of Staff, Karan Chavis
Karan
Chavis is JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker’s Chief of Staff. She will be involved with planning and managing varying school-level projects. Learn more about Karan in our extensive Q&A and how her role plays a vital part in JABSOM’s leadership.
Dr. Kristy Shine appointed as JABSOM Director of Medical Student Research
Kristy Shine, MD, PhD, is JABSOM’s new Director of Medical Student Research. She takes over for Dr. Russell Woo, who became JABSOM’s Associate Dean for Clinical Programs (at Hawai‘i Pacific Health). Dr. Shine is a physician-scientist with expertise in medical research education who is excited to expand and support medical student engagement in research activities. Learn more about Dr. Shine’s new role on our website.
Scan to read the full Q & A
Karan Chavis
Dr. Kristy Shine is JABSOM’s new Director of Medical Research
Welcoming the new leadership team of the Medical Education Division of the Dept. of Native Hawaiian Health. L to R: Dr. Kanoho Hosoda, Dr. Nanette Judd, and Ms. Kimberly Yamauchi
Grateful alums give back through Kulike Kakou Gala
Drs.
Jaimie Tom and Shane Morita (JABSOM MD 1998) met in medical school more than twenty-five years ago. Both are grateful that their JABSOM experience led them to these points in their careers and to each other.
“We began our journey together at JABSOM when the medical school was still on the Mānoa campus. This past year, we celebrated our 25th anniversary, both medical school graduation and marriage, so we wanted to do something fun,” the couple said.
The idea initially began as a silver anniversary class reunion but blossomed into the Kūlike Kākou (which means “stand together”) Gala, held on April 13, 2024, at the Kahala Hotel & Resort. In one evening, the JABSOM couple found a way to give back to their alma mater, honor the outgoing University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner, and provide a night for their colleagues and friends in both the
healthcare and non-healthcare sectors to engage in fellowship, especially in these challenging times.
“We recognize that burnout and weariness affect us all, no matter what industry we work in, so we wanted to go ‘old school,’”
Dr. Tom said. “Despite the numerous advances in modern healthcare, we all know that laughter is still the best medicine.”
The event was an unforgettable night of laughs and camaraderie. Popular local comedian and UH alumnus Tumua Tuinei headlined the sold-out event. Kūlike Kākou also featured performances by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning singer Kamakakēhau Fernandez.
“Everyone needs laughter in their life, and when you can laugh and forget about the crazy things happening in the world, it’s almost like you can escape reality,” Tumua said. “That was my main goal. It
was to make sure everyone forgot about everything they went through and came together to laugh.”
In a true showing of the Aloha spirit, Kūlike Kākou brought people from all communities together for the common cause of supporting rural and neighbor island health. The gala raised a quarter of a million dollars, which would go to JABSOM’s Rural and Neighbor Island Medical Education fund.
“25 years ago, we would never have thought we could give back to our school this way. Not only did we receive excellent medical training at JABSOM, but we also gained a lifetime partner, three wonderful children and the privilege of returning home to care for our community. For these opportunities, we are forever grateful to the medical school, our parents, our families, and those who embody the essence of the Aloha spirit, who stepped in to help us whenever we needed it.”
Tumua Tuinei and Rachael Ostovich with Dr. Jaimie Tom and Dr. Shane Morita
Dr. Kathryn Ko introduces new mini-museum to JABSOM
he Ko Iki Mini Museum (Ko, for her surname and “iki” for “small” in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i) was installed on the JABSOM campus in March 2024 by Dr. Kathryn Ko (JABSOM MD 1983), who is an accomplished neurosurgeon and artist. The vision for Ko Iki is like that of a typical gallery. Pieces will rotate every six weeks, and themes will alternate between art and science.
“I feel that holding art close, you retain kindness,” she said. “I wanted to give this as my thank you gift to the school in the hopes that the students get the same enjoyment from art and they understand that this JABSOM environment is very special. You don’t get the aloha anywhere else.” Ko is deeply grateful to the administrators at JABSOM for supporting her vision.
JABSOM alum appointed as Hawai‘i State Hospital director
The Hawai‘i Department of Health has tapped Dr. Kenneth Luke (JABSOM MD 1988) to lead Hawai‘i State Hospital, the state’s only forensic psychiatric hospital. Luke, who has been serving as the interim hospital administrator since May, will oversee the hospital’s full operation and its 600-plus employees.
“Dr. Luke is an exceptional psychiatrist and is dedicated to providing compassionate mental health care,” said JABSOM Interim Dean Lee BuenconsejoLum, MD. “As the nation navigates a growing mental health crisis, his appointment to lead Hawai‘i State Hospital is a testament to his outstanding leadership and vision for the state. We are proud that JABSOM alumni like Dr. Luke are leading the state forward to ensure high quality, compassionate care for some of our most vulnerable populations.”
Dr. Kenneth Luke
Dr. Kathryn Ko in front of the Ko Iki Mini Museum
JABSOM 2024 graduate pursues orthopedic surgery, inspired by carpentry upbringing
West O‘ahu native Maveric Abella (JABSOM MD 2020) fondly remembers many busy weekends renovating houses with her dad and brother. It wasn’t until many years later, as Maveric explored different career paths, that she found herself shadowing surgeons in the operating
JABSOM alum makes strides in cancer research, leadership
room. Her father’s unintended influence during those many weekends of fixing up houses solidified her choice to specialize in orthopedic surgery.
Maveric entered JABSOM in 2020, receiving her white coat during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2024, she began her residency training at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA.
“I think it’s special to be able to talk and learn medicine and treat people from your community,” Maveric said. “The kind of doctors I shadowed at Queen’s West and the surgeons— that’s exactly who I wanted to be. And I knew I could do that if I went to medical school here. Super blessed and super lucky to be at JABSOM.”
To watch our video with Maveric, scan the QR code
Dr. Stephen Chun (JABSOM MD 2010) was among 16 selected to participate in the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Leadership Development Program. In his new role, Dr. Chun will learn valuable leadership skills, gain exposure to ASCO’s roles and mission, and learn about the Society’s place in developing the future of cancer care. He attributes the mentorship he received from JABSOM and UH Cancer Center leaders to his success today.
“Because of the close-knit community at JABSOM, I formed close relationships with faculty who helped me launch a career in academic medicine almost two decades ago. Not every medical school has opportunities for students to interface with the academic heavyweights of their institution directly, and I encourage JABSOM students to take full advantage of this.”
Dr. Maveric Abella fixing up a broken patio bench with her father, Eric Abella
Dr. Stephen Chun
Celebrating 30 years of the Family Medicine Residency Program
The new cohort of Family Medicine residents
2024 marked the 30th anniversary of JABSOM’s Family Medicine and Community Health (FMCH) Residency Program. There’s a great need for FM physicians in Hawai‘i, and this program has ensured that the best of the best continue to serve our state. The training experiences at JABSOM’s FMCH Residency, which include maternal-child health, geriatric care, substance-use disorder treatment, and community outreach, are as varied as the communities they serve.
Our family medicine residency has produced 181 physicians in the last 30 years. FMCH graduates diligently serve residents of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Maui, Lānai, and Moloka‘i.
JABSOM’s FMCH Residency Program is excited to expand to Kaua‘i in 2027. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is investing $750,000 to plan and develop a rural Family Medicine residency program on Kaua‘i. Under the new initiative, a cohort of residents of the JABSOM’s Family Medicine Program will spend their first year training at Hawai‘i Pacific Health and other clinical sites on O‘ahu. Their second and third years of residency will be spent training primarily at Wilcox Health on Kaua‘i.
As a member of the inaugural PGY-1 class, we quickly bonded over the growing pains and joy of helping to pioneer and shape family medicine training that is tailored to and embraces Hawaii’s many populations and communities.
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~ Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum
“Family medicine physicians care for entire families, from the youngest children to the kūpuna,” said Dr. Allen Hixon, chair of JABSOM Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and Hawai‘i Pacific Health chief of academic family medicine. “With the ongoing shortage of primary care physicians, especially in rural areas, this federal grant provides an incredible opportunity for JABSOM to partner with Hawai‘i Pacific Health, the state Department of Health and the Kaua‘i community to train the next generation of family medicine physicians on Kaua‘i.”
Inaugural PGY-1 Family Medicine Residency class in 1997
RESIDENTS & FELLOWS
Senator Hirono visits Complex Family Planning Clinic/Fellowship
Champion of women’s reproductive rights, Sen. Mazie Hirono, visited JABSOM’s Complex Family Planning Clinic/Fellowship to meet the students, residents, and fellows who will ensure abortion care remains accessible in our state.
First established as the Options Center in 2006, the Complex Family Planning Clinic has provided abortion and complex contraception care to people across the state, Guam, and other areas of the Pacific. On the educational side, JABSOM’s Complex Family Planning Fellowship started in 2012. It provides comprehensive family planning education, research, policy, and clinical care in Hawai‘i. After completing the fellowship, about half of the trainees practice in Hawai‘i.
A$3.76 million gift from John C. Couch will establish the firstever gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship program at JABSOM that will train physicians to treat liver diseases, including cancer, in the islands.
The gift creates the John C. Couch
“Another aspect of what we do is train the future generation,” said Dr. Reni Soon, co-director of the Complex Family Planning Fellowship Program.
“We have medical students and residents from JABSOM and other states coming to do rotations with us. We’ve also had healthcare providers in other professions, like nursing and social work, come in and do some rotations with us. We want to connect with everyone who can impact this type of care that is so very needed.”
urged the fellows, residents, and students to practice “eternal vigilance.”
Hirono’s visit comes at a pivotal point in women’s reproductive rights in America, and our state’s senior Senator repeatedly
“I’m glad that Hawai‘i provides those kinds of services, but I think that we should really concern ourselves with what’s going on with the rest of the country. As far as I’m concerned, we have an obligation to be as aware and helpful as we can,” Hirono said.
Gift establishes JABSOM’s first fellowship to tackle liver disease
Fund for Hepatology and the John C. Couch Endowed Chair in Hepatology.
The new program will leverage partnerships with health systems that provide JABSOM’s clinical learning environment, including the Queen’s Medical Center, which currently has the only transplant program in the state. The program will unite specialists from diverse disciplines and create a framework to tackle liver disease and directly improve the quality of life for local patients. Hawai‘i has the secondhighest incidence of the most common form of liver cancer in the U.S. but has a chronic shortage of locally based hepatologists and healthcare providers who have the expertise to help prevent and treat liver disease.
“There is a higher likelihood that hepatologists trained here in the islands will commit to
practice in our local communities,” said Dr. Scott Kuwada, chair and professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Queen’s. “This will allow us to build partnerships and make it more common for patients to receive the care they need in Hawai‘i instead of having to travel to the continental U.S..”
Couch is a liver cancer survivor who underwent a successful liver transplant in 1999. He spent 22 years working in Hawai‘i, most recently as the former Chairman, President and CEO of Alexander & Baldwin Inc., and prior to that, he was President of Matson Navigation Co. After retiring from A&B in late 1999, Couch joined C.M. Capital Corporation in Palo Alto, California, in 2000 and served as its President and CEO. He is currently C.M. Capital’s Vice Chairman.
John Couch
Senator Hirono and the students, residents, and fellows of the Complex Family Planning Clinic
JABSOM wins AOA Professionalism Award
JABSOM was the proud recipient of the 2023-24 Alpha Omega Alpha Professionalism Award. One winner is chosen annually for its best practices in the education and practice of medical professionalism. Our professionalism philosophy centers around “pono,” the Hawaiian word for ‘proper’ or ‘righteous.’ It guides JABSOM’s work to ensure its students, faculty and staff understand the responsibility to act with integrity while taking action to eliminate health disparities in the spirit of social justice.
Dee-Ann Carpenter, MD, from JABSOM Professionalism Advisory
Committee (JPAC), says what sets our medical school apart is that we embrace professionalism with aloha.
“One of the things we do in promoting professionalism is by looking at this from a positive standpoint rather than a punitive one,” Carpenter said. “It’s the compassion; it’s the empathy; it’s the advocacy, the care and the self-care.”
Brayden Wacker, Administrative Officer for the Office of the Dean, played a pivotal role in illustrating how professionalism is woven through JABSOM. He used diagrams and flowcharts to show the different professionalism offerings in the different units at the medical school.
“To be a small part of telling JABSOM’s story and to be part of the impact that these students will make when they go out into the communities and hospitals is awesome,” Wacker said.
JABSOM is dedicated to cultivating professionalism throughout the medical education continuum to better equip learners with the necessary values and tools to ensure the highest level of patient and team safety when they become physicians.
JABSOM faculty wins inaugural Hawai‘i Health Partners Member of the Year Award
Forover three decades, Dr. Lynn Iwamoto, MD, has served as a neonatologist at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children while training the next generation of pediatricians as JABSOM faculty. In June 2023, she appeared on Honolulu Magazine’s cover as one of the state’s top doctors. In July, Hawai‘i Pacific Health and Hawai‘i Health Partners named her Member of the Year for improving patient safety. Iwamoto created the Maintenance Certification Program, which gives physicians credit for their
quality and patient safety.
Years ago, once certified, doctors remained certified throughout their careers. However, in medicine, advances and breakthroughs are constant. That’s why the American Board of Medical Specialties started requiring physicians to stay up to date, ensuring they’re equipped to serve and care for patients with a full spectrum of ever-evolving knowledge. Through the Maintenance Certification Program, Iwamoto created a blueprint for physicians at Hawai‘i Pacific Health to earn credit and stay
current with the American Board of Medical Specialties standards.
For example, “In neonatology, we have been working to improve our breast milk rates for preemie babies. In this quality improvement effort, we developed educational interventions to help educate the staff and parents on the importance of breastfeeding. As a result, we were able to show an increase in the number of babies who went home with breast milk feedings, which not only contributes to better outcomes for babies, but we
Dr. Lynn Iwamoto
were able to give our physicians credit for actively participating in the project,” said Iwamoto.
AOA Inductees Banquet 2021
ACCOLADES
Rising Stars: MFM Fellows take home awards at international conference
Three of JABSOM’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellows snagged awards at the 71st Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) in April 2024.
Dr. Cathlyn Sullivan received the SRI President’s Presenter Award for her oral presentation on “The Role of Vaccination in Maternal Fetal Dyads in SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Transfer.” This showcased the successful collaboration between JABSOM’s Department of Tropical Medicine in Dr. Vivek Nerurkar’s laboratory and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Meanwhile, Drs. Jacob Garcia and Elizabeth Mercer both won coveted poster awards. Selected from over 1000 submissions from around the world, Garcia’s poster explored microplastic accumulation in placentas from adverse pregnancy outcomes, while Mercer’s covered dietary macronutrients and their correlation with gastrointestinal microbiome diversity across pregnancy trimesters.
“We were so surprised and thrilled that all three of our current MFM Fellows won awards for their research. It is virtually unheard of for an institution as small as ours to win three awards at a single major research conference such as the SRI. It is certainly a testament to how it takes a
village to raise JABSOM trainees,” remarked Dr. Men-Jean Lee as she expressed appreciation to her MFM Division Members who help to train the Fellows.
Mercer’s research was mentored by Dr. Corrie Miller a recent graduate of the JABSOM MFM Fellowship. Garcia’s innovative project is credited to the collaboration between the UH Mānoa Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research and the OB-GYN department.
Celebrating UHM awards winners
L to R: Associate Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, Dr. Martina Kamaka, Dr. Thomas Quattlebaum, and Dr. Chip Hixon
Every year, the UH Mānoa Awards recognizes faculty, staff and students who have dedicated themselves to advancing the University’s mission of excellence. We proudly celebrate two JABSOM faculty members who have been honored for their exceptional contributions to educating current and future healthcare professionals and
ensuring high-quality care for the people of Hawai‘i.
Dr. Martina Kamaka received the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching for outstanding subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, as well as personal values that benefit students. Kamaka, an associate professor at JABSOM’s Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence, is credited by her colleagues with being at the forefront of training medical students in patient-centered care and cultural competency well before these were goals of health care.
Dr. Thomas Quattlebaum received the Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching for his significant contributions to teaching and student learning. As the program director for the Family Medicine Residency, Quattlebaum considers himself a teacher first and a physician second. Also an assistant professor of family medicine and community health at JABSOM, he engages students and residents in continuous clinical teaching, emphasizing realworld applications. Fondly known as “Dr. Q,” his colleagues credit him with creating a positive learning community, serving as a mentor and coach, and helping transform the educational environment into a nurturing space.
L to R: Dr. Jacob Garcia, Dr. Elizabeth Mercer, Dr. Cathlyn Sullivan, and Dr. Men-Jean Lee
JABSOM Professor recognized as Immunization Champion
JABSOM
Professor of Tropical Medicine and Chair of the Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Dr. Sandra Chang was named the state’s 2024 Immunization Champion by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM.) The award, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes individuals who do an exemplary job or go above and beyond to promote or foster immunizations in their communities.
Since joining JABSOM’s Tropical Medicine Department in 1986 as a research scientist in the malaria vaccine development program, Chang has been a principal investigator on malaria immunology and vaccine development research projects.
Notably, she co-founded the University Student Immunization Initiative, a proactive effort to promote immunization among students. During the pandemic, Chang volunteered to co-lead the state medical working group for COVID-19
Bringing cultural roots into her medical education training
Ashley Mainani Lee recognizes the responsibility she carries as a future Native Hawaiian physician.
“For me, it’s trying to restore them (Native Hawaiians) to their original state of health through traditional Hawaiian diet, bringing them back to our culture, through ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, and figuring out how we can incorporate those things into medical education and practice,” Lee said.
Inspired by her Maui roots and her tutuman Enos Akina, a kalo farmer and
practitioner of healing through the use of Native Hawaiian plants, Lee has made her mark at JABSOM. She led the Ka Lama Kukui Indigenous Health Interest Group, integrated ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i into her research, currently mentors Native Hawaiian pre-medical students and shares her culture at global conferences.
After the tragic wildfires engulfed Lahaina and other areas on Maui, Lee was one of the first medical responders. Working with Maui Medic Healers
Hui, she brought culturally sensitive care directly to the community, helping residents heal from both mental and physical trauma. These efforts earned her the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee Excellence in Public Health Award.
“My class of 80 has only eight Native Hawaiians,” Lee said. “To be nominated for this prestigious award means a lot, especially to be recognized for my work in the Native Hawaiian community. It’s reassuring to know that that kind of work is important at JABSOM.”
Dr. Sandra Chang
vaccination. Additionally, she served as co-chair for the vaccination education committee in the Vaccine Preventable Cancer Workgroup. She led a community effort between the University of Hawai‘i and local public high schools in establishing a peer education program to increase vaccine acceptance.
SimTiki Director Recognized for Decades of Simulation Work
Atthe 2024 Annual International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, SimTiki Director Dr. Benjamin Berg was inducted as a Fellow of the prestigious Society of Simulation in Healthcare Academy and was honored with a Presidential Citation Award by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare for his outstanding leadership and two decades of work in academic simulation through research, mentorship, education, and training.
Berg is considered a role model and ambassador in healthcare simulation as JABSOM’s SimTiki Center hosts many international students.
Dr. Benjamin Berg
Lieutenant Nash Witten presents the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Award to Ashley Lee, medical student
$4M to study health disparities in Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $4 million to UH to establish a new longitudinal cohort study of Native Hawaiians (NH), Pacific Islanders (PI) and Asian Americans (AA) in the U.S. and is known locally as the Pacific Ocean Native Observational (PONO) Study. Spearheaded by three researchers from the university – Drs. Marjorie Mau, Alika Maunakea, and Lani Park – the Pacific Ocean Native Observational (PONO) Health Legacy Study is a new research initiative to analyze diabetes, heart and lung health disparities in AANHPI communities.
Ten thousand participants (18-66 years old) of AANHPI descent are followed over decades as the study will focus on
health resilience and risk factors aimed at disease prevention. The PONO Study Team works with the Fred Hutchinson Center in Seattle and the five different sites (located in Hawai‘i, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York) to set up and train research and community staff on the study protocol and assessment tools.
“It is our long-term goal to stay connected with all of the diverse racial and ethnic populations in Hawai‘i so we can bring some of the latest research science back to our health providers and communities in a meaningful way. Getting the word out as quickly as possible will allow PONO to give back to our communities,” stated Dr. Mau.
From research to medicine, JABSOM 2028’s Maya Nishida makes moves in STEM
In May, JABSOM highlighted our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) ‘ohana for AANHPI Month.
JABSOM MD 2028 candidate Maya Nishida graduated from the JABSOM Quantitative Health Sciences (QHS) Program in 2022. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Maya chose JABSOM to conduct research – and eventually pursue medicine – to learn more about the unique cultural landscape she calls home and to contribute to reducing the health disparities in her communities.
Scan the QR code to read the Q&A highlighting Maya
L to R: Dr. Marjorie Mau, Dr. Lani Park, and Dr. Alika Maunakea
Maya Nishida, medical student
JABSOM scientist competes at Merrie Monarch
In April 2024, JABSOM scientist Andrew Kekūpa‘a Knutson, PhD, performed for the fourth time at the world-renowned Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawai‘i. Dr. Knutson is a member of Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e under the direction of Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes.
Knutson studies heart health, specifically chromatin factors and epigenetics in the cardiovascular system, but well before Dr. Knutson became a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Cardiovascular Research, his first love was hula, which
he’s been doing since he was eight. When he returned home from college, his passion for science was solidified, and his love for hula never waned.
“There’s a mental and a spiritual aspect that takes me out of the worries and stresses associated with doing biomedical research. I can get lost in the minutiae of things. Hula centers me and grounds me in understanding why I’m doing what I’m doing. It connects me to my history, land, culture, and kūpuna,” Knutson said. “In science, I’m studying biology, which is the study of life. So, hula is another aspect of studying life. It gives you a different perspective.”
Scan the QR code to watch the video
Peau o le Vasa: Research investing in community JABSOM,
the National Association of Pasifika Organizations (NAOPO), and Papa Ola Lōkahi (POL) collaborated on Peau o le Vasa (“the waves of the ocean” in Samoan), a project to train and support additional Community Health Workers within Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Recognizing its significance, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated $1.4 million to develop this project further.
“This is an unprecedented partnership and project that brings together a diverse group of Pacific Islanders to address our shared health concerns in ways that are culturally meaningful as well as sustainable beyond the life of this funded project,” says Dr. Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, department chair of JABSOM’s Native Hawaiian Health and a Co-Principal Investigator for Peau o le Vasa.
Through the involvement of Community Health Workers, Peau o le Vasa aspires to encourage individuals within these communities to actively pursue treatment for these chronic ailments.
Dr. Andrew Knutson
Peau o le Vasa leaders on KITV4 Island News
MEDICINE WITH ALOHA
Highlighting research pathway programs for undergraduate students
Two
JABSOM NIH-funded programs, Maximizing Access to Research Careers at UHM Program (MARC@UHM) and Minority Health Research Training Program (MHRT), have successfully provided pathways for students interested in biomedical and STEM programs.
This past year, 12 students completed the MHRT program, which doubled in size from the six students in the previous cohort. Students researched an out-of-state community of their choice, and at the end of their research period, they presented their out-of-state research in front of friends and family. Now in its 11th year, MHRT tracking results show that the majority of its trainees continue on to graduate school.
“About 25 percent go on to medical school,” Dr. Angela Sy, MHRT Program Director said. “About a third to 50 percent of those who don’t go to medical school go on to get their Masters, and some get their PhDs. It’s not just academic; we look for other qualities to build students’ professional development to better succeed in applying for future graduate or professional schools.”
“[This program is] pretty much 100% why I have these opportunities,” Albertson said. “Additionally, the program does great work in helping with professional career development workshops.”
Under the same umbrella of MHRT is MARC@UHM, which provides opportunities for students like Alena Albertson. She applied for MARC@ UHM, which was a life-changing experience for her.
Scan the QR code to learn more
Richard Kasuya
President
JABSOM MD 1989
Ryon Nakasone
Vice President
JABSOM MD 2006
Christie Izutsu
Treasurer
JABSOM MD 2011
Gina Fujikami
Secretary
JABSOM MD 2008
Kheng See Ang
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1982
JABSOM Alumni Association Board 2024-2025
Patricia Blanchette
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1979
Elizabeth Char
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1991
William Haning
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1975
Janice Matsunaga
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1980
Ivy Nip-Asano
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1994
Sada Okumura
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1975
Kenn Saruwatari
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1981
Geri Young
Emeritus Director
JABSOM MD 1978
Emilio Ganitano Director
JABSOM MD 1999
David Horio Director
JABSOM 1969
Leimomi Kanagusuku Director
JABSOM MD 2018
Todd Kuwaye Director
JABSOM MD 1997
Jordan Lee Director
JABSOM MD 2010
Kenneth Ortiz Director
JABSOM MD 2014
Stefanie Park Director
JABSOM MD 2004
Jayson Takata Director
JABSOM MD 1991
Mike Tom Director
JABSOM MD 2013
Michael Yim Director
JABSOM MD 1981
2024 MHRT participants
Emme Tomimbang-Burns
1950-2024
Emme
TomimbangBurns passed away on February 19, 2024.
Emme was 73 years old and the widow of the late Supreme Court of Appeals
Chief Judge James S. Burns, son of Hawai‘i
Governor John A. Burns, after whom JABSOM is named.
Emme grew up in Kaka‘ako, near the site of the medical school and became a staunch supporter of our mission after her pioneering career in television ended.
Emme was a leader in the Filipino Community and broke barriers for local women by hosting her own radio show on KNDI in her teens, interviewing international celebrities at KITV, launching the Morning News on KHON Channel 2, and ultimately forming her own production company, Emme Tomimbang Multi-Media Enterprises (EMME, Inc.). She provided more than 20 years of entertainment via “Emme’s Island Moments,” featuring the most well-known and inspiring characters and stories in Hawai‘i.
Emme spent her recent years establishing and overseeing endowments and scholarships. At JABSOM, she honored the Kahanamoku legacy with scholarships for Native Hawaiian students. She recently established the BurnsTomimbang scholarship, paving the way for JABSOM medical students committed to serving the Filipino community.
Dr. Gary Mawe 1956-2024
Barry Weinman 1939-2024
In April 2024, we mourned the loss of Barry Weinman. A true titan of generosity and spirit, Barry Weinman died peacefully at 85, surrounded by family and friends.
His passing, almost a year after Virginia, his beloved wife of 60 years, left a void in the hearts of those touched by his unwavering commitment to advancing medicine and education.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Weinman’s journey took him across continents and oceans, from his service in the U.S. Navy to his venture capital endeavors.
Weinman’s legacy is intertwined with the story of Virginia, his partner in life and philanthropy. Together, he and Virginia dedicated themselves to supporting the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) and the UH Cancer Center, leaving a lasting mark on both institutions. As co-founders of the Weinman Foundation, Barry and Virginia blazed a trail of generosity, providing countless opportunities for aspiring medical students and researchers at JABSOM and the UH Cancer Center.
Dr. Howman Lam 1947-2024
Dr. Milton Diamond 1934-2024
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