In the highly competitive world of pre-medicine, nine students in the ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program chose collaboration over rivalry during a demanding year preparing to enter the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补’s (JABSOM). Their efforts were recently celebrated by mentors, loved ones and the JABSOM ʻohana
For Regan Stradtmann-Carvalho, one of just two in the ʻImi Hoʻōla cohort living on Oʻahu without immediate family support, the journey was especially challenging. But bonds with classmates sustained her.
“You know, my peers have become like my sisters, they really helped me through,” said the Kamehameha Schools alumna, who grew up in rural Volcano Village on Hawaiʻi Island. There, she witnessed the challenges of accessing consistent medical care and drew inspiration from her father, a psychiatric nurse.
“He always said it’s because he’s a Hilo boy. So, he’s a Hilo boy taking care of his own community,” she said. “I’m a Hilo girl that wants to return to the Big Island someday.”
Mililani High School graduate Taylor Gomban also found her calling early. “I’ve always wanted to make people smile and improve their quality of life,” she said.
Volunteering at Queen’s Medical Center confirmed Gomban’s desire to become a doctor. As a first-generation student during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she navigated the pre-med path on her own.
“I had to do a lot of putting myself out of my comfort zone,” said Gomban, who now feels supported by mentors and peers. “They say ‘Once an ʻImi , always an ʻImi.’”
‘Those who seek to heal’
They say ‘Once an ʻImi, always an ʻImi.’
—Taylor Gomban
The program’s name means “those who seek to heal,” and it prepares students from underserved communities to become physicians serving Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Successful completion guarantees admission to JABSOM.
“It really is a challenging program, and I think it sets us up very well to succeed in the future,” said Stradtmann-Carvalho.
For Gomban, the cohort’s bond extended beyond the classroom. “We never missed a birthday celebration,” she said. “We always got cake and we always sang.”
Now, they celebrate their biggest milestone yet: entering the JABSOM MD Class of 2029.