Fall-Winter 1997

The Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) began in 1991 funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The creation of the NHCOE allowed the consolidation of over 25 years of program efforts for minorities in medicine into a coordinated, comprehensive effort to increase the number of Native Hawaiians in medicine.

The NHCOE warmly welcomes seven first year Native Hawaiian medical students to the School of Medicine:

Sloane Berger, Kaleo Ede, Celeste Freitas, David Mattson, Jr., Kealanalani Richards, Reni Soon and Jacqueline Souza.

A special congratulations goes to Celeste Freitas, the new president of the class of 2001! Currently, there are 28 Native Hawaiian students at JABSOM.

The NHCOE would like to congratulate seven Native Hawaiian graduates of the class of 1997.

Matthew Ichiro Kaululaau Cockett, M.D.
Family Practice, Maricopa Medical Center:
Phoenix, Arizona

Alean Iwalani Cook Palmer, M.D.
Family Practice, University of Hawai'i Family Practice Residency Program: Mililani, Hawai'i

Momi Elizabeth Kaanoi, M.D.
Family Practice, University of Hawai'i Family Practice Residency Program: Mililani, Hawai'i

Lawnie-Lyn Uluihi Lau, M.D.
Preliminary Medicine, University of Hawai'i Integrated Medicine Residency: Honolulu, Hawai'i
Diagnostic Radiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center: Loma Linda, California

Kevin Lum, M.D.
Emergency Medicine, Akron City Hospital:
Akron, Ohio

Winona Frances Mesiona, M.D.
Pediatrics, University of Hawai'i Integrated
Pediatric Residency: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Kelli-Ann Noelani Frank Voloch, M.D.
Pediatrics, University of Hawai'i Integrated
Pediatric Residency: Honolulu, Hawai'i

The NHCOE would also like to welcome four new Native Hawaiian students to the Imi Ho'ola Program: These students are: Tiffany Coelho, Paul Kaiwi, Joseph Kamai, and Ross Simafranca.

In addition to being a Full Professor at the School of Medicine and the Vice Chair of the Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Dr. Kay Bauman serves as the Faculty Development Coordinator for the NHCOE and she coordinates the Fellowship Seminar Series for Native Hawaiian faculty. The purpose of the fellowship is to increase the number of Native Hawaiian faculty by providing them with teaching and administrative skills. There are several components to the seminar series: 1) leadership and administrations skills; 2) one-to-one teaching skills; 3) lecturing skills and 4) small group process. Future seminars in the series will include curriculum development, how to deal with different learners, and evaluation.

Currently, there are four Native Hawaiian faculty members participating in the seminar series:

Nicole Apoliona, M.D.
Dee-Ann Carpenter-Yoshino, M.D.
Peter Donnelly, M.D.
George Makini, M.D.
Linda Nahulu, M.D.

We are happy to be working with them and especially with Dr. Bauman!

RECRUITMENT
Summer Programs Offered
The summer affords intermediate through high school students the opportunity to explore the medical field with the School of Medicine.

Big Island
Nine Native Hawaiian students participated this summer in the Keala Lapa'au-Medical Pathway class which was part of the Na Pua No'eau Summer Institute Kupulau Program at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. The program is directed by Kaloa Robinson.

O'ahu
This was the sixth summer for the SPEBE (Summer Program for the Enhancement of Basic Education) Medical Science. SPEBE is a six week residential program for incoming high school seniors from public high schools across the state. Thirty students from around the state participated; 9 students (a third of the class) were Native Hawaiian. The program is directed by 'Iwalani Else.

STUDENT ENRICHMENT
Summer was busier than one might expect. In addition to providing the usual reading, studying, test taking and speaking advice, NHCOE staff was involved in the National Medical Association Conference in Waikiki on August 1 - 6, 1997. Following the conference we enjoyed meeting our Center's of Excellence colleagues from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Texas. Toward the end of the summer, fourth year students began bringing their personal statements and C.V.'s in for editing and asking for help with interviewing for entry into residency programs.

ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS
The staff of the NHCOE were pleased to welcome Dr. Ciriyaco Gonzales and Dr. Evelyn Rodriques from the Division of Disadvantage Assistance of HRSA. Both Drs. Gonzales and Rodriques were in Hawai'i for a site visit of the NHCOE, Imi Ho'ola, Partnerships for Health Professions Education (PHPE) and HCOP Psychology programs.

PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Doric Little, Student Enrichment Coordinator, was busy speaking this summer. Her events included:

• Communication Tool" to "Credibility - Physician's most important:
  1. U.C. Davis Minority Medical Students and Residents, May 30
  2. SPEBE students, June 30
  3. Marc/Haumana students, July 8
  4. Imi Ho'ola students, July 22
• Sexual Ethics Revisited; 1987-1997" to NCSEE (National Coalition for Sex Equity in Education), on Maui, July 23
• Behind Academic Success," Keynote address to 1997 UH System Clerical Retreat, August 8 and 11.

CONFERENCES
Project 3000 by 2000
Kaloa Robinson and 'Iwalani Else attended the Association of American Medical Colleges Project 3000 by 2000 conference entitled "Enabling Standards: Education Partnerships for Equity and Excellence in the Health Sciences" held in Washington, D.C. on July 19-21, 1997. While in D.C., Kaloa and 'Iwalani visited Senator Akaka's office, where Kaloa worked for seven years.

National Medical Association
On Saturday, August 8, 1997, as a member of a symposium on communication skills for NMA residents, Dr. Little spoke on "Credibility for Physicians." That morning's presentation was followed by a tour to the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Care Center, a catered Healthy Native Hawaiian lunch and a visit to the Ka'ala Cultural Learning Center. Drs. Nanette Judd and Alean Cook-Palmer shared their expertise of the area and of Native Hawaiian healers.

On Monday, August 8, 1997, Drs. Little and Judd joined by Associate Dean Dr. Satoru Izutsu and Native Hawaiians Dr. Linda Nahulu and Angela Pratt Poomaihealani spoke to the Pathology Division on the topic "Medical Education of Underrepresented Populations in Hawai'i and the Pacific Basin."

All events were well received by our NMA visitors and enjoyed by NHCOE staff and affiliates.

FYI

The United States Medical Licencing Examination (USMLE)
Some great news - all Native Hawaiians passed the recent United States Medical Licensing Examination Part 1 help in May. Congratulations to all!

Open House
On Sunday, August 3, 1997, Dr. Little hosted an Open House at her home on the North Shore for NMA colleagues. Attendees included NHCOE staff, Dr. Kay Bauman and 'Iwalani Else, Imi Ho'ola director, Dr. Nanette Judd, University of Texas Medical School, Galveston staff, Dr. Billy Ballard and Sandra Garvoch, Chair of NMA residents, Dr. Anita Jackson and family Members.

Ua ola loko I ke aloha
Love is imperative to one's mental and physical welfare