Twelve students have joined this year’s ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, a program that for more than 50 years has prepared future physicians to serve Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
Since its founding, ʻImi Hoʻōla has prepared more than 280 students for medical school, many of whom now practice in Hawaiʻi’s rural and underserved areas.
Among this year’s class are Tyler Chock and Nanea Delostrico, each bringing a story that reflects ʻImi Hoʻōla’s mission.
Inspired by local role models
Born and raised in Honolulu, Chock is a Roosevelt High School graduate whose interest in science was sparked by the school’s STEM curriculum. He later earned a degree in biochemistry from UH Mānoa and worked as a ward clerk at Straub.
…this is one of the most amazing curricula for becoming the best version of yourself, and also a physician uniquely qualified to care for Hawaiʻi.
—Tyler Chock
“I’ve known many doctors who’ve gone through this program, and I have a lot of friends who graduated as well,” Chock said. “I just know that this is one of the most amazing curricula for becoming the best version of yourself, and also a physician uniquely qualified to care for Hawaiʻi. What drew me to ʻImi wasn’t just the academics, it was the intentionality.”
Delostrico, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Keaʻau, first learned about the program during a Health Occupations Students of America competition.
“We got to meet some of the ʻImi students and one of them was a graduate of my school, so it was very personal,” Delostrico said. “She was in the program and so she was also pretty passionate about being able to share her experience and was super encouraging to help us get there.”
Delostrico went on to study at Grand Canyon University, graduating in 2023, then worked at a dermatology clinic in Hilo.
“Having their mentorship was super helpful for me, too, in getting to where I am now,” she said.
Strength in community
Since starting ʻImi, Delostrico has found strength in her cohort.
“At first, I didn’t understand the purpose of it,” she said of the program’s initial focus on self-reflection and study skills. “But through it, I learned so much about how I function best, how to build healthy habits, and how important our support systems are. I’ve never connected with a group of people this fast.”
Both students know the year will be rigorous, but they’re motivated.
“From the first day I started working at Straub, I knew with certainty that being in the hospital is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Chock said.
“What’s getting me through is my classmates. We’re all in this together, and I truly believe we’re going to lift each other up through every phase,” Delostrico said.
