Cheers, hugs and tears flowed at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM) as the Class of 2026 opened envelopes revealing the next step in their medical journeys.

On March 20, 78 students participated in Match Day, learning where they will continue their training in residency programs across the country.

This year鈥檚 class is strongly committed to primary care, with 56% matching into internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics and OB-GYN—fields that remain in high demand across Hawaiʻi. Additionally, 33% of graduates will remain in Hawaiʻi for residency.

Staying home to serve Hawaiʻi

For many students, staying home made Match Day especially meaningful.

“As cheesy as it might sound, I think it means the world to me,” said Kerrick Chinen. “I grew up in this place, these people have raised me, and it鈥檚 an absolute honor to be back serving the people and practicing even more at home.”

He added, “The heart said I really wanted to stay at home, but I knew the reality of it. It was a little dicey. So it was an absolute relief opening that envelope up and seeing the University of Hawaiʻi.”

Jonathan Carino shared a similar goal. “That鈥檚 always been my intention,” Carino said. “To do residency somewhere not in Hawaiʻi didn鈥檛 sit right with me, and I鈥檓 really glad I鈥檓 staying home here at 东精影业.”

JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker said that commitment reflects the school鈥檚 mission to serve the state鈥檚 most pressing health care needs.

“Primary care is the backbone of a healthy community, and Hawaiʻi continues to face a critical need in these areas,” Shomaker said. “We are proud to see so many of our students choosing this path and staying true to our mission of training physicians who will serve our communities here at home.”

It was also a notable year for surgery, with 19% of the class matching into surgical specialties.

Nationally, more than 38,000 medical students matched into residency programs this year, marking the largest Match in the history of the National Resident Matching Program.

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For Thomas Gausepohl, returning to his hometown of Kapaʻa to study medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM) is more than a dream come true—it鈥檚 a chance to give back. As part of the 鈥檚 fourth cohort, Gausepohl joins a growing number of local students learning to serve their own communities through a unique rural health initiative that’s transforming care on the Garden Isle.

Established with a $10 million gift from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, the Kauaʻi Medical Training Track (KMTT), aims to cultivate a dedicated cohort of physicians committed to serving rural communities. “Mark and I are so pleased to see the Kauaʻi Medical Training Track welcome its fourth cohort,” said Chan. “With 22 students now in the pipeline, the program will help meet Kauaʻi鈥檚 medical needs for years to come.”

Related 东精影业 News story: $10M gift helps address Kauaʻi physician shortage

Training rooted in community

Administered by JABSOM, the program offers an immersive training experience on Kauaʻi, allowing medical students to live, learn and train on the island for up to 15 months throughout their four–year education.

“Rather than a brief rotation, this pathway integrates students into the fabric of Kauaʻi so when they graduate, it will be an easier transition for them to return to the community,” said Travis Hong, director of rural training at JABSOM. “In addition to building medical knowledge, we鈥檙e developing community connections and long–term commitment.” Students accepted into the program receive extensive support, including tuition, housing and transportation, in exchange for a four–year post–graduation commitment to practice on Kauaʻi. While open to all applicants, the program prioritizes those with local ties or a demonstrated interest in rural medicine.

“Learning alongside doctors and preceptors who serve in Kauaʻi鈥檚 rural health system will be invaluable,” said Gausepohl, who was born in Kapaʻa and graduated valedictorian from Kapaʻa High School. “I think it will definitely help me see what this kind of work looks like day to day, and what it means to be part of a team that鈥檚 truly serving the community.”

Strong support, growing impact

Learning alongside doctors and preceptors who serve in Kauaʻi鈥檚 rural health system will be invaluable.
—Thomas Gausepohl

Since its launch, KMTT has attracted increasing interest, drawing numerous applicants for each of the available six slots. It has also generated strong support among Kauaʻi physicians, with 35–40 volunteering as educators and 22 serving as core faculty—all actively practicing on the island.

“Word–of–mouth and media exposure have helped the program grow organically,” said Hong. “And we鈥檙e seeing how this kind of sustained, place–based medical education really makes a difference–not only for the students, but for the entire Kauaʻi health care system.”

Kirra Borrello, a fourth–year medical student and a member of the first KMTT cohort, said the program changed the way she thinks about medicine.

“Participation in KMTT has significantly broadened my medical education by combining principles of community engagement and service into traditional clinical training,” she said. “Working closely with the Kauaʻi community preceptors throughout my third year has highlighted the importance of cultural competence and social determinants of health in delivering patient–centered care, especially in a tight–knit rural community such as Kauaʻi.”

For the first time in its history, Kauaʻi will be home to a family medicine residency program—thanks to a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM) and Wilcox Medical Center—marking a major step forward in addressing rural physician shortages on the Garden Island.

With funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration鈥檚 Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved JABSOM‘s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) to launch the
东精影业 Kauaʻi Family Medicine Residency鈥攖he island鈥檚 first.

“This is a beautiful example of the 东精影业 medical school, Wilcox Medical Center, Hawaiʻi Health Services Corporation and the broader Kauaʻi community coming together to find a solution to the critical neighbor island physician shortage,鈥� said Allen Hixon, chair of the Department of Family Medicine. “We chose Kauaʻi because we recognized that we could make a difference in improving access to health care for the island of 74,000 residents. With the network of health care organizations already here serving patients, we wanted to bolster the number of physicians committed to this community.”

The program will welcome its first cohort in academic year 2026–27. Residents will train on Oʻahu in their first year, then spend their second and third years on Kauaʻi, rotating through Wilcox Medical Center, HHSC clinics, the District Health Office, Hoʻola L膩hui Health Centers and others.

“Our new Family Medicine Residency program will be a true partnership with all of Kauaʻi,” said the Kauaʻi residency’s inaugural Program Director, Cynthia Ohata. “The Family Medicine residency clinic will be located in Kapaʻa in the Kauaʻii Village Shopping Center, but Wilcox Medical Center, Kauaʻi Medical Clinic and Pali Momi Medical Center on Oʻahu will host many of the core rotations.”

“Wilcox is committed to developing the health care workforce on Kauaʻi. For students, this often starts with opportunities, like this residency program, to connect directly with our community while learning and growing,” said Jen Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Medical Center, and CEO of Kauaʻi Medical Clinic. “We are proud to partner with 东精影业 by providing a teaching environment that meets the rigorous standards necessary to establish this new accreditation. This is an invaluable investment in the future of Kauaʻi.”

“Since its founding 30 years ago, JABSOM‘s residency program has trained over 170 physicians, over 80% of whom continue to serve in Hawaiʻi,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “The expansion of this essential specialty on a rural island like Kauaʻi proves we are meeting our mission, and we look forward to increasing our impact throughout the state.”

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The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa鈥檚 (JABSOM) marked the 30th anniversary of its (DFMCH) and the Family Medicine Residency Program (FMRP) in March, celebrating a legacy of training physicians to serve communities across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

Since its founding in 1994, FMRP has trained more than 170 residents, with more than 80% continuing to practice in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

“From the delivery (cradle) to the grave, family medicine covers a lifecycle,” said Neal Palafox, a founding faculty member and former department chair. “It鈥檚 a view of not only individual health but population health.”

At a celebration event on March 28, Palafox reflected on the program鈥檚 origins at Wahiaw膩 General Hospital, its move to Pali Momi in 2017, and the opening of the Pali Momi Outpatient Center in 2020. He credited the program鈥檚 success to support from health systems statewide, the legislature and HMSA.

“From a partnership standpoint, we had residents doing rotations at Queen鈥檚, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Tripler, Kaiser and St. Francis,” he said. “There is no hospital that didn鈥檛 partner to make this work.”

FMRP鈥檚 mission aligns with JABSOM鈥檚 broader goal of training health professionals committed to ALOHA鈥擜ttain Lasting Optimal Health for All.

“FMRP provides the opportunity for our homegrown physicians to stay in Hawaiʻi and care for their communities,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker.

The program has produced many distinguished JABSOM alumni and faculty, including Jill Omori, director of the Office of Medical Education and founder of the Hawaiʻi HOME Project; Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, associate dean for academic affairs and the 2024 Family Physician of the Year; and Chip Hixon, DFMCH chair, who was recently named Hawaiʻi Pacific Health鈥檚 2025 Physician of the Year at Pali Momi.

Looking ahead, FMRP is awaiting accreditation to launch a new residency program on Kauaʻi, expanding its reach and continuing its mission of service to all of Hawaiʻi.

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Family medicine is at the core of University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa鈥檚 Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, who was honored as the 2025 Family Physician of the Year by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Family Physicians. The associate dean for academic affairs at the (JABSOM) has championed providing healthcare in the greater Pacific, where access to medical services is limited.

Buenconsejo-Lum, a Wahiaw膩 native, recognized the need for quality healthcare in rural communities at a young age. She graduated from JABSOM in 1994 and was part of the inaugural cohort of the 东精影业 Family Medicine Residency Program, completing her training in 1997.

“I’m humbled to receive an award for something that continues to bring me such joy. No matter how hectic life gets, I still enjoy seeing my patients, and they help center me,” Buenconsejo-Lum said. “The work of family medicine is especially important during this time of rapid change. It’s critical that we provide continuity, stability, and a holistic approach to patient care because that’s what our patients deserve.”

I鈥檓 humbled to receive an award for something that continues to bring me such joy.

During her residency, Buenconsejo-Lum maintained her connection with JABSOM by mentoring medical students. She later became the designated institutional official, overseeing all residency and fellowship programs at JABSOM. Despite her many roles and responsibilities over the years, Buenconsejo-Lum has remained rooted in her Wahiaw膩 upbringing and family medicine practice, bringing a sense of relatability to both patients and colleagues while upholding professionalism.

Leimomi Kanagusuku, a JABSOM alumna, benefited from Buenconsejo-Lum鈥檚 mentorship as a student and later as a resident, highlighting her lasting impact on future generations of physicians. Now a faculty member herself, she continues to look to Buenconsejo-Lum as a role model in family medicine.

“She truly exemplifies excellence in so many ways as a physician, educator, community member, and leader,” Kanagusuku said. “Dr. Buenconsejo-Lum has the tenacity, smarts, and energy to wear so many hats and look flawless in doing so, and we wanted to recognize her for her dedication and passion for her craft. Family medicine in Hawaiʻi is better because of her, and we are proud to call her one of our own.”

Anna-Kaelle Ramos, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM), fulfilled a childhood dream by matching into the 东精影业 pediatrics residency program. Joining her were 76 other students, all matched into various residency programs, continuing JABSOM‘s streak of 100% match rate for two consecutive years.

“Even though I didn’t know at that time that I was necessarily going to go into pediatrics or OBGYN or anything like that, being born and raised here, I knew I wanted to serve the exact communities I grew up in,” said Ramos, a Kaiser High School graduate.

Austin Corpuz, who grew up on the Leeward side, was inspired by the care he received from his community. Now, he’s matched with the 东精影业 internal medicine program, eager to give back.

Corpuz said, “I like to think about how I’ll impact this community in the future. That purpose is what really drives me forward.”

Primary care specialties fill need

A Hawaiʻi continues to grapple with a physician shortage, more than half of JABSOM students are pursuing primary care specialties of internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics.

For many of them, staying in Hawaiʻi to learn and serve is a priority. Although not all specialties are available locally, 31% of the JABSOM class of 2024 will continue their training in Hawaiʻi.

This year JABSOM matched 16 students in pediatrics, the highest number in seven years, promising increased care for Hawaiʻi‘s children.

A rural family medicine residency program on Kauaʻi is in the works that will provide more access to care for Garden Isle residents, thanks to a $750,000-grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

With the physician shortage impacting the neighbor islands and other rural areas, families on Kauaʻi often struggle to find care. The three-year grant partners the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM), Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation Kauaʻi, the Kauaʻi District Health Office and the broader Garden Isle healthcare community as they aim to break down barriers in accessing care by establishing new residency programs in rural communities.

Currently, the 233 residents and fellows in 18 specialties sponsored by JABSOM鈥檚 Graduate Medical Education enterprise train almost exclusively on Oʻahu. The proposed rural-track curriculum would now provide a cohort with more than 60% of the family medicine residency training on Kauaʻi once the program is approved by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education.

The program, which embeds more interdisciplinary training opportunities with public health than many existing family medicine residencies, will strengthen and grow the health workforce, which will eventually make it easier for Kauaʻi families to access care.

“Family medicine physicians care for entire families, from the youngest children to the k奴puna,” said Allen Hixon, chair of JABSOM , and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health chief of academic family medicine. “With the ongoing shortage of primary care physicians, especially in rural areas, this federal grant provides an incredible opportunity for JABSOM to partner with Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, the state Department of Health and the Kauaʻicommunity to train the next generation of family medicine physicians on Kauaʻi.”

Under the new initiative, a cohort of residents of the JABSOM鈥檚 Family Medicine Program will spend their first year training at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health and other clinical sites on Oʻahu Their second and third years of residency will be spent training primarily at Wilcox Health on Kauaʻi.

“We value our relationship with the John A. Burns School of Medicine as we work together with the University of Hawaiʻi to create a pipeline for future physicians on Kauaʻi,” said Jen Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Medical Center and CEO of Kauaʻi Medical Clinic. “The family medicine residents will gain valuable experience and knowledge while training in a rural setting side-by-side with our providers. These residents are the future of health care and we hope to inspire them to continue their careers on Kauaʻi.”

According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, the entire state, outside of Honolulu, is designated as a primary medical Health Professional Shortage Area. Physician shortages, poverty and geographic isolation contribute to lack of access to care and poorer health outcomes for those in rural areas.

“We are very grateful to HRSA for awarding this grant and recognizing the health workforce needs of rural Hawaiʻi,” Hixon said.

This funding through the planning grant may be used to support accreditation costs, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and retention, resident recruitment activities and consultation services to support program development. A formal accreditation application will be developed by the partnership, with the aim of recruiting in the inaugural class by the end of the project period.

will provide women鈥檚 health exams and birth control to women displaced or impacted by the Maui wildfires at its health center.

Three clinics in Lahaina Town were destroyed, and women鈥檚 health services were already booked out for months on the rest of Maui before the disaster. The is located on its campus and is open to community members as well as students, staff, and faculty. It is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

More on how to help Maui ʻohana and the Maui wildfires.

Hannah Litt is the nurse practitioner who staffs the center. In the past, she has provided women鈥檚 health care at both Kaiser Lahaina and Maui Medical Group office in Lahaina. Litt said the patients she cared for and their families have been in her thoughts constantly.

“I would love to help ease worries or stressors for the people on Maui who are already overwhelmed by loss or just don鈥檛 know where to turn,” Litt said.

The health center can dispense many birth control options for free on-site. Specific prescriptions for non-stock items can be called into a pharmacy.
For more information interested patients can call 808-984-3594 or 808-868-7799 (after hours), or email: hlitt@hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 (JABSOM) on March 16, announced a six-year, $10 million commitment from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg. This gift will fund the new Kauaʻi Medical Training Track, a multi-pronged program on Kauaʻi to help address the physician shortage and improve access to healthcare services.

东精影业 President David Lassner said, “We are tremendously grateful to Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg for their generous gift and commitment to our island鈥檚 community health. This gift will have a lasting ripple effect that will directly improve the health and wellness of Kauaʻi鈥檚 families today, and in the future.”

According to 东精影业鈥檚 2021 Annual Report for the State Legislature (PDF), Kauaʻi needs more than 61 doctors to meet the local community鈥檚 current healthcare needs. also note that the Garden Island has more uninsured people, more strokes and hypertension, and more adults with cancer than the rest of Hawaiʻi. The physician shortage, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, poses serious challenges for all residents—especially for those struggling with chronic illness and preventable diseases.

JABSOM Dean Jerris Hedges said, “We know that doctors who train in rural areas, especially areas where they have family and community ties, are more likely to practice in a rural setting. To address Kauaʻi鈥檚 physician shortage, we need more medical students from Kauaʻi, and we must expand medical training on Kauaʻi.” Hedges continued, “JABSOM selects 80% or more of its student population from the state of Hawaiʻi and has one of the highest rates of graduate retention in the nation post training. This six-year initiative will help us grow medical student and resident trainee numbers on Kauaʻi and help practicing doctors on Kauaʻi benefit from the stimulating educational environment associated with training new doctors.”

Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg said, “Expanding the medical community will help improve access to healthcare services for local residents—which is crucial to building a healthier community on Kauaʻi. We鈥檙e honored to support the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi as they strive to address the physician shortage by creating a more robust pipeline of doctors.”

Through the Kauaʻi Medical Training Track, six JABSOM medical students, with ties to Kauaʻi or another neighbor island and/or a strong interest in rural health, will be accepted into this program annually beginning July 2022. The program will fund tuition and fees for all four years, as well as transportation and lodging.

The gift will also enable JABSOM to:

• Develop a faculty base and offer rural residencies to equip future physicians with the experience needed to practice on Kauaʻi and in other rural communities that do not have multiple specialists readily available.
• Add 21 residents to Kauaʻi annually.
• Hire a Kauaʻi Director for Interdisciplinary Training and Simulation and support staff to oversee and expand interdisciplinary training and education with Kauaʻi Community College health sciences students.

Kauaʻi District Health Officer Janet Berreman added, “Being the District Health Officer on Kauaʻi for five years, including through the pandemic, has highlighted for me the critical importance of healthcare providers who are deeply embedded in and committed to our community.”

Berreman continued, “No one brings the level of intimate knowledge and skilled attention to the health of the community as well as someone who is from the community, trained in the community, and chooses to serve that community. This program is a much-needed opportunity to support the medical training of Kauaʻi鈥檚 future physicians, while ensuring that their training prepares them to live and practice here.”

Integral to the program鈥檚 success is growing the strategic partnership between JABSOM and healthcare partners, including and .

Kauaʻi Medical Director for the Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Group Geri Young has been a practicing physician on Kauaʻi for more than 40 years. She said, “We very much appreciate the generous gift from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg to help address the state鈥檚 physician shortage.” She continued, “Having the opportunity for medical students and residents to train on Kauaʻi is priceless, as many will ultimately decide to practice in a rural area such as Kauaʻi.”

Young added, “My husband, Robert Teichman, and I are both proud graduates of JABSOM. Over the years, we have seen how so many of the JABSOM alumni who practice on our neighbor islands serve in our communities for their entire career. The rewards of practicing medicine and supporting good health and wellness for our friends and neighbors are great. This program will give our future physicians a meaningful opportunity to experience this.”

Chief Medical Director for Kapono Chong-Hanssen added, “By providing such a longitudinal opportunity for budding physicians to experience health care and life on Kauaʻi, this program has wonderful potential to address the physician shortage on the neighbor islands and inspire more of our own healers to return to serve our communities after completing their training. We believe the collaborative relationships built between the various health care organizations on Kauaʻi will provide a valuable experience for these medical students and help them appreciate the famous saying “Maikaʻi Kauaʻi, hemolele I ka malie (Beautiful Kauaʻi, peaceful in the calm).”

Travis Hong, who was born and raised on Kauaʻi, has been appointed director of rural training and will oversee the program. Currently a physician at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children specializing in pediatric emergency medicine, Hong is passionate about medical student and resident education and mentoring.

“Like all physicians who grew up on Kauaʻi, I left the island for school and training, but Kauaʻi has always been home to me. Having an opportunity to significantly improve healthcare on Kauaʻi has been a dream of mine since returning to Hawaiʻi and I am so grateful and honored to be a part of this targeted and very timely program,” Hong said.

The (USPSTF)鈥檚 revision to its 2016 recommendation on the use of aspirin to prevent the first heart attack or stroke in adults without a history of such cardiovascular events made headlines in October. Expert panel member Chien-Wen Tseng, professor and research director in family medicine and community health at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa (JABSOM),was interviewed by various news outlets on the USPSTF鈥檚 updated draft recommendation, .

“The latest evidence is clear. For people ages 40–59, aspirin can have a benefit but it鈥檚 small and only for some people. Folks need to talk with their clinician to see whether it鈥檚 the right decision for them and not just start aspirin on their own,” said Tseng. “As we get 60 years or older, the risks of bleeding increase and the harm cancels the benefit of using aspirin except for people who have already had a heart attack or stroke.”

Tseng said it is important to note that the task force recommendation is not for people already taking aspirin because they had a heart attack or stroke. “These individuals should continue to do so unless told otherwise by their clinician,” she said.

Tseng has served as a volunteer expert on the USPSTF for more than five years and will step down later this year. Appointed by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, she was the first USPSTF member to be chosen from Hawaiʻi.

“It has been an incredible honor and experience. This has been terrific for me as a family physician. I take care of our community from babies to grandparents. Knowing that the recommendations apply to all of the patients I care for is incredibly meaningful and satisfying,” Tseng said. “Plus, at JABSOM we are training our next generation of physicians and teaching them about our national guidelines on preventive care.”