Medical education in paradise: another facet of Hawaii

Abstract

Hawaii is synonymous with paradise in the minds of many. Few know that it is also an environment where high quality medical education is thriving. This paper outlines medical education initiatives beginning with native Hawaiian healers of centuries ago, and continuing to present-day efforts to support top-notch multicultural United States medical education across the continuum of training. The undergraduate medical education program has as its core community-based problem-based learning. The community basis of training is continued in graduate medical education, with resident doctors in the various programs rotating through different clinical experiences at various hospitals and clinics. Continuing medical education is provided by nationally accredited entities, within the local context. Educational outreach activities extend into primary and secondary schools, homeless shelters, neighbouring islands, and to countries throughout the Pacific. Challenges facing the medical education community in Hawaii are similar to those faced elsewhere and include incorporating more technology to improve efficiency, strengthening the vertical integration of the training continuum, better meeting the needs of the state, and paying for it all. Readers are invited to join in addressing these challenges to further the realisation of medical education in paradise as a paradise of medical education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joshua L. Jacobs

JOSHUA L. JACOBS MD is a Family Physician, Associate Professor of Medicine, PBL tutor, Office of Medical Education director of technology in medical education at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. He is currently working as a visiting clinical researcher and teacher in Tokyo, Japan.

Richard Kasuya

RICHARD KASUYA MD, MS Ed is a Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Office of Medical Education at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Damon Sakai

DAMON SAKAI MD is Associate Director of the Office of Medical Education and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University ofHawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

William Haning

WILLIAM HANING MD is a psychiatrist, and Director of Graduate Affairs at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Satoru Izutsu

SATORU IZUTSU PhD is the Senior Associate Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine. He has been with the University of Hawaii since 1976 and is Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry. Dr Izutsu is a graduate of the University of Hawaii, Columbia University, and Case-Western Reserve University.