Hawaiʻi is facing a critical shortage of neurosurgeons, leaving many patients with long waits or forced to travel off-island for care. The (JABSOM) is working to address the shortage through a mentorship program that trains the next generation of specialists while encouraging them to practice locally.
JABSOM alumnus Thomas Noh returned home to join the faculty and quickly saw how the problem would worsen as current neurosurgeons retire.
“There was an opportunity, and a need, for JABSOM to build interest in the field and get more people excited about going into neurosurgery,” he said.
The program offers hands-on surgical rotations, opportunities to contribute to research projects in Noh?s lab and access to professional networks, with an emphasis on empowering women and students from underrepresented communities.
“One of Hawaiʻi's super powers is that we have incredibly bright, very motivated students who want to make Hawaiʻi their home,” Noh said. “If we can connect this pool of extremely qualified candidates with opportunities across neurosurgery, there’s hope that some of these students will get excited about it and want to build a career in Hawaiʻi.”
Invaluable mentorship experience
Third-year medical student Janette Bow-Keola said the mentorship has been invaluable.
“When I started med school, I had the idea that I wanted to pursue neurosurgery, but I didn’t think it was really achievable, coming from my background as an underrepresented person in medicine,” she said. “I struggled with imposter syndrome and doubting whether I was right for medicine or worthy of going into neurosurgery.”
Through the experience I’m getting at JABSOM, I’ve built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients.
—Janette Bow-Keola
When Bow-Keola met Noh, he affirmed that neurosurgery was within reach and that JABSOM could help her get there. “Through the experience I’m getting at JABSOM, I’ve built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients,” she said.
Bow-Keola plans to return to Hawaiʻi to address disparities in care and the declining neurosurgeon workforce.
Another success story is alumna Andie Conching—the first known Native Hawaiian woman accepted into a neurosurgery residency—who also credits mentorship at JABSOM and plans to return home to practice.
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