As Hawaiʻi鈥檚 aging population continues to grow—with nearly one-third of residents projected to be 65 or older by 2035—second-year medical student Kristal Xie at the (JABSOM) at the is being recognized for her dedication to caring for the state鈥檚 办奴辫耻苍补.

Xie recently received the N膩 Lima K艒kua Award from the Hawaiʻi Pacific Gerontological Society, which recognizes students demonstrating exceptional dedication to gerontology. Presented in memory of the organization鈥檚 first president, Tony Lenzer, the award honors Xie鈥檚 service, research and commitment to older adults in Hawaiʻi.

“This experience has strengthened my commitment to advancing the health and well-being of older adults,” Xie said. “I鈥檓 grateful to my mentors, especially Dr. Kamal Masaki, and to my loved ones for their continued support.”

Early exposure sparks a passion for geriatrics

Xie鈥檚 interest in geriatrics began during her first year at JABSOM when medical students are required to complete community service. She was selected to participate in WISH—Wellness Initiative for Seniors in Hawaiʻi, a program that connects students with 办奴辫耻苍补 through weekly visits at Kuakini Medical Center.

Caring for our 办奴辫耻苍补 is an opportunity to serve the community that raised us.
—Kristal Xie

“Talking story with 办奴辫耻苍补 helped bring our classroom learning to life,” Xie said. “It made me more aware of how to meet patients where they are and think about what support they might need.”

Her experience with WISH inspired two research projects—one focused on strengthening family engagement in elder care and another examining the health impacts of social isolation. She is currently working on hospital discharge planning research aimed at improving communication and safety for older adults returning home.

“Caring for our 办奴辫耻苍补 is an opportunity to serve the community that raised us,” Xie said.

In addition to the N膩 Lima K艒kua Award, Xie has received multiple scholarships recognizing her work in gerontology. She is now considering a career in geriatrics, guided by mentors in JABSOM鈥檚 Department of Geriatric Medicine, one of the largest fellowship programs in the nation and serving communities across the U.S.

Read more at .

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 aging population is growing faster than the rest of the U.S., with more than 21% aged 65 and older (compared to less than 18% nationwide) creating an urgent need for specialized healthcare for our 办奴辫耻苍补. In response, philanthropists Allen and Anne Abaya established the Nohara-Abaya Geriatrics Fellowship Award in 2023 at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM). Now in its second year, the award continues to support young doctors and nursing practitioners committed to careers in geriatrics.

Related 东精影业 News story: Critical shortage in geriatric medicine tackled by JABSOM pilot programs

“It makes you feel that what we are doing is worthwhile, you know? We鈥檙e getting more and more passionate about it because we see more examples of where the need is there,” said Anne Abaya.

Recipients make an impact

For alumnus Trace “Kaimana” Kalei, caring for 办奴辫耻苍补 is deeply personal. “In Hawaiʻi, our 办奴辫耻苍补 mean a lot to us, and being able to care for them is a way of us being able to give back to our ʻohana and to our community. It’s a privilege,” Kalei said.

Kalei also recognized the financial burden of training locally. “It’s a very valuable gift and we鈥檙e very grateful for it. It will help support many other folks down the road.”

Maxwell Shen discovered his interest in geriatrics during his JABSOM internal medicine residency program at Tripler Army Medical Center. “A lot of the patients that I took care of were the elderly population, so that鈥檚 where my interest grew,” he said. “It was really eye-opening to watch [my mentor] work, as well as giving me different types of pearls.”

Serving the elderly population has long been a goal for alumna Daniella Orias. “I, personally, have always loved geriatrics. It鈥檚 always been a huge part of my passion and so, even through my family medicine (residency) training, I鈥檝e always held a really soft spot for it,” she said. “It鈥檚 a really tremendous honor that they鈥檝e been providing this for us, so that we can keep trying to help out with our geriatric community and our 办奴辫耻苍补.”

Looking ahead

“As we look forward, the geriatric population is only going to get larger. This (program) will help to provide support for that,” Kalei said.

“We figure, anything we can do to help get those numbers up (those interested in geriatric care), it feels good,” Abaya added.

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June is Alzheimer鈥檚 and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer鈥檚 disease affects an estimated 31,000 Hawaiʻi residents, about 11% of those age 65 and older. As Hawaiʻi鈥檚 population continues to age, the number of Alzheimer鈥檚 cases is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Gina Fujikami, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and a geriatrics medicine physician, shares insights on prevention, early detection and advances in diagnosis and treatment.

What is Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, and how does it affect the brain?

Alzheimer鈥檚 is a type of dementia caused by a buildup of amyloid and tau protein plaques in the brain. These plaques lead to brain damage, resulting in memory loss and cognitive difficulties. While these proteins often begin accumulating in middle age, not everyone with them develops Alzheimer鈥檚, and much about the disease remains unknown.

How has diagnosis and treatment improved recently?

Diagnosis has advanced from relying mostly on clinical exams and memory tests to now include specialized blood tests and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans that detect amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These tools enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis. In terms of treatment, new medications target these plaques to slow disease progression, though research continues on their long-term benefits.

How can people reduce their risk, and how can they tell normal forgetfulness from symptoms of the disease?

Maintaining heart health through exercise, managing blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure is important for brain health. Mental and social activities like puzzles and socializing also help. Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but consistent memory issues that interfere with daily life, such as forgetting routes home or leaving appliances on, should prompt a medical evaluation.

What is the situation with Alzheimer鈥檚 in Hawaiʻi, and what support services are available?

About 31,000 residents in Hawaiʻi鈥攁round 11% of those 65 and older鈥攁re living with Alzheimer鈥檚. Cases are expected to double by 2050, creating challenges for families and caregivers. The provides caregiver support groups, educational programs and outreach, including support groups for those in early stages of dementia.

What is the Silver Alert system, and how does it help those with cognitive impairments?

Recently implemented in Hawaiʻi in July 2024, the Silver Alert is a community notification system similar to the Maile Alert for missing children. It is used when seniors or individuals with cognitive impairments go missing, helping law enforcement and the public respond quickly to ensure their safe return.

Fujikami and colleagues will be featured in an upcoming event, Research Roundtable: The Era of Treatment, hosted by the Alzheimer驶s Association Hawaii Chapter, June 14 8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. at JABSOM. .

In February, University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 programs brought dementia education and caregiving resources to Molokaʻi, offering residents a rare chance to connect with experts and support services close to home.

Hosted by the at the and (GWEP) at the , in partnership with ALU LIKE, Inc., the event drew strong community interest and highlighted the growing need for aging and brain health support in rural areas.

“Sharing knowledge outside the walls of academia is critical,” said Miquela Ibrao, associate director of H膩 K奴puna. “When we equip families and caregivers in rural areas with the tools they need, we reduce health disparities and empower communities.”

For Curtis Crabbe, attending was personal. “I initially showed up to learn about my potential in acquiring dementia,” he said. “I ended up observing the huge disparity Molokaʻi has in disseminating any information on dementia and its associated challenges.”

Held at a time when access to health education on the island remains limited, the event featured a talk by Aida Wen, GWEP principal investigator and geriatrician with The Queen鈥檚 Health System, along with interactive sessions in Tai Chi, Hawaiian language, and creative writing. Social worker Sara Tompkison and Alzheimer鈥檚 Association鈥檚 Cindy Fowler led a session on the Positive Approach to Care.

To increase long-term access to geriatric services, GWEP and Queen鈥檚 have begun offering telehealth support to 办奴辫耻苍补 on Molokaʻi.

Organizers say the momentum is growing. A follow-up event is planned for September to share more about brain health and caregiving resources. This effort is part of a larger initiative by H膩 K奴puna and ALU LIKE to reach underserved communities statewide. Previous events have taken place in Kona, Hilo and P膩hoa.

A new study reveals that global life expectancy (LE) increases have slowed significantly, suggesting humanity is approaching a biological ceiling for life expectancy.

Led by the University of Illinois at Chicago, the research published in , includes contributions from Bradley Willcox, a geriatric medicine researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM) and Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program Center of Biomedical Research Excellence-Center for Translational Research on Aging. Willcox鈥檚 expertise in gerotherapeutics—interventions aimed at addressing aging at its molecular level—plays a critical role in understanding this trend.

The study indicates that despite medical advances in reducing infant and late-life mortality, life expectancy in the world鈥檚 longest-living populations has increased by only 6.5 years since 1990. This deceleration has startled many demographers who have relied on models predicting continuous increases in life expectancy.

Lead author S. Jay Olshansky stated that the most significant advances in longevity through medical breakthroughs have already been achieved. “Most people alive today at older ages are living on time manufactured by medicine,” he said. “But these medical band-aids are producing fewer years of life, implying that the rapid increase in life expectancy is now over. We should shift our focus to efforts that slow the effects of aging and extend healthspan (the time spent living in good health).”

The study examined data from the eight longest-living countries, including Hong Kong and the U.S. While long-lived locales showed markedly slower LE gains, American life expectancy actually decreased during this period.

Implications for social programs

In 1990, Olshansky and colleagues published a that argued humans were approaching a ceiling for life expectancy of around 85 years, with the most significant gains already achieved. Others predicted that advances in medicine and public health would accelerate 20th-century trends upward into the 21st century, which has implications for Social Security and other public health programs.

Willcox noted the importance of these findings for planning retirement: “How do we realistically plan for our future? What data source do we trust to determine how long we might live?”

In 2014, Elaine Flores joined the , benefiting from its tips on wellness and body knowledge. She shared the lessons with her husband, Eddie Flores, founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.

“She gave me all the tips, so that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so healthy,” Eddie joked.

The Mini-Medical School, based at the University of Hawaiʻiat 惭腻苍辞补驶s , was founded by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor Emeritus Virginia Hinshaw and Rosita Leong. The program celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023, and has been providing crucial education on healthy aging for
Hawaiʻi鈥檚 aging population, which boasts the longest life expectancy in the U.S.

To support the school’s mission, the Flores family donated $100,000 to establish an endowment. Kamal Masaki, the current director of the program and chair of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, expressed her gratitude, noting the importance of maintaining healthy aging resources for
Hawaiʻi‘s residents.

“We want to make sure that the Mini-Medical School goes on in perpetuity,” she said.

The Flores family hopes their donation encourages more people to attend the program. Eddie, a proud 东精影业 graduate, said the program meant a lot to them.

“Elaine and I are honored to make this donation. The Mini-Medical School is a tremendous asset to the community, and we are proud to support it.”

Now retired from L&L, Eddie and Elaine enjoy traveling, volunteering and spending time with family. They recognize the importance of staying healthy, especially as grandparents. Eddie, of Filipino-Chinese heritage, emphasized that programs like the Mini-Med School are vital for reaching underrepresented groups and helping more people maintain good health.

The Mini-Medical School offers two sessions annually, one in spring and one in fall, providing participants with expert knowledge on aging and health. Its next hybrid session begins on September 28.

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More than 70 students across various health programs at gained valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of providing patient-centered age-appropriate care through a symposium in January.

Community Health Education Program Director Hilary Hacker said, “This symposium, created from a shared commitment to excellence in healthcare training, aims to transcend traditional silos.”

The collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program drew students from practical nursing, community health worker, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, respiratory care practitioner and medical assisting.

It is helpful to see the aspects of patient care through the lens of other health professionals
—Elizabeth Kalahiki, respiratory care student

“I genuinely enjoyed interacting with all the health science students,” said Jesse Temple, a student in the physical therapist assistant program. “Not only was I able to understand how to establish a better patient plan of care, but my knowledge was enhanced on each representative鈥檚 role within the health care team. I can鈥檛 wait to work alongside each and every one of them!”

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Professor and Geriatric Medicine Chair Kamal Masaki prefaced the symposium with insights on “Developing an Age-Friendly Health System,” after which student groups were introduced to a geriatrics case to identify issues and develop preliminary management plans. Actors representing a patient and his daughter shared what mattered most to them, and the teams reconvened to adjust their plans with those considerations.

“It was beneficial to witness and understand how important every field is when working together for the ultimate care and needs of the patient,” said practical nursing student Skye Kalehuawehe. “I know that this experience will help me advance as a future nurse and that I can use these skills learned today to my advantage to give the best possible care to those in need.”

Student teams presented their care plans, followed by a panel discussion where faculty and professionals from diverse healthcare fields shared their clinical experiences and discussed lessons learned.
“This was a great opportunity to collaborate with other health fields to formulate a plan from varying perspectives with the patient鈥檚 wishes in mind,” said Elizabeth Kalahiki, a respiratory care student. “It is helpful to see the aspects of patient care through the lens of other health professionals. As a future respiratory care practitioner, I had a chance to see how patient care continues after discharge, as most of our involvement has been in an acute setting.”

The shortage of geriatricians nationwide is staggering鈥攄emand is estimated at 30,000 with fewer than 7,000 practitioners. This leaves a crucial gap in healthcare services as the elderly population expands. In Hawaiʻi, the demand for geriatricians far outpaces the supply: Hawaiʻi holds the title of highest life expectancy in the nation at 80.7 years, along with the highest percentage of residents aged 85 and older, according to recent U.S. Census data.

Philanthropists Anne Nohara-Abaya and her husband Allen Abaya were compelled to provide a solution and established two pilot programs to support and encourage students to pursue geriatric care as a specialty at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM). The couple started the Nohara-Abaya Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award and the Nohara-Abaya Curriculum Support Fund.

“It was eye-opening,” said Anne, who learned more about the shortage after attending the . “Hawai驶i has so many seniors鈥攈ow much better would things be if we had more geriatricians?”

Professor and Chair of JABSOM鈥檚 Department of Geriatric Medicine Kamal Masaki recognizes the paradox: “It鈥檚 very sad because I think older patients could really benefit from this expertise.”

Supporting young doctors in geriatric care

The Nohara-Abaya Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award recipients receive $50,000 toward student loan relief and/or financial support—providing an opportunity for young doctors facing financial barriers to pursue their passion for geriatric care in favor of choosing a more lucrative specialty in order to quickly pay off student debt.

The 东精影业 Geriatric Medicine Fellowship is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, and it boasts a remarkable record of nearly half of its graduates choosing to practice in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Kathryn Kianalani Choo Loy, JABSOM geriatric medicine fellow, cannot imagine practicing anywhere else and is grateful to be one of first recipients of this award.

“My hope is that I can be a support system for my patients who are going through so many transitions at their age, and need someone with patience and compassion to help them remain not just healthy—but happy as well,” said Choo Loy. “I am also passionate about making sure caregivers are taken care of too and will think of their health and wellbeing as part of my responsibility as well.”

Growing expert nurse practitioners

The goal of the second pilot program established by the Abayas is to inspire and encourage more Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, or APRNs, to become experts in caring for the elderly. The Nohara-Abaya Curriculum Support Fund will be used to create a unique program for nurse practitioners that exposes them to the geriatrics specialty through interprofessional education and collaboration with JABSOM medical students.

Administered by the JABSOM Department of Geriatric Medicine, the program will be available to nurse practitioner students enrolled across three institutions including 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

With these two pilot programs underway, Masaki is excited for the future of geriatric care in Hawaiʻi.

“They鈥檙e a wonderful couple, they want to help the community, they see the needs that are there and they figured out a way that they can give back and I鈥檓 so thrilled,” said Masaki of the donors鈥� generosity. “The more people that go into the field of geriatrics, I think it鈥檒l be better for our community.”

Rafia Hasina, 64, has been waiting for years to attend a popular program that engages the local 办奴辫耻苍补 (elder) population at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM). The Dr. Rosita Leong Mini-Medical School on Healthy Aging is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

“One of my friends took these Mini-Med School classes before COVID. Since then, I’ve waited to be accepted and finally got in,” Hasina said.

She was all smiles on October 14 as she finally got her hands on a 300+ page binder that she said holds the key to unlocking a healthier life in her later years.

The fall 2023 semester covers topics such as rheumatoid arthritis, breast and prostate cancers and spine strengthening. It also dedicates sessions to topics such as what to expect when undergoing surgery and how to use exercise as medicine.

“There is so much we need to know about our health, especially aging,” Hasina said.

In addition to the binder containing her “homework,” Hasina will return to JABSOM each Saturday morning for the five-week course tailored to issues affecting Hawaiʻi‘s 办奴辫耻苍补.

“I’m especially interested in learning how to reduce suffering and pain,” she said. “Mini-Med School also offers timely advice on future life planning and decision making if something serious happens. This knowledge will make me feel more comfortable if I’m ever forced to make these tough decisions.”

Each year, there are 10 new topics over five weeks in the spring, and the same speakers and topics are repeated during five weeks in the fall.

“One thing we really want people to do as they age is to remain as healthy as possible and to continue to be lifelong learners,” said Kamal Masaki, JABSOM鈥檚 Mini-Med School director. “The philosophy of the Mini Medical School is to be mentally active. Our students are doing that by learning here. We encourage them to be mentally, physically and socially active, and to have nutritional balance.”

Masaki, who is also the chair of JABSOM‘s Geriatric Medicine Department, is glad to see the program flourishing and believes the messages during the program will lead to a healthier 办奴辫耻苍补 population in Hawaiʻi. So far, roughly 1,000 people have participated over the past decade.

The Mini-Medical School was started in 2014 by Virginia Hinshaw, who was a faculty member at JABSOM and chancellor emeritus of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

During the pandemic, Mini-Med School went entirely online but is transitioning back to in-person classes.

For more information on the program, email mmsaging@hawaii.edu. Read more on the .

Medical students aren鈥檛 the only ones having to adapt to changes in learning due to the current COVID-19 situation at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM). This fall, approximately 150 seniors have gone online to be a part of the .

The brainchild of Virginia Hinshaw, its recently retired director and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor emerita, the Mini-Medical School started at JABSOM in 2014 in partnership with the . The school was designed to prepare participants for the second halves of their lives by delivering relevant scientific information on aging, similar to what medical students learn but tailored for a public audience. Originally held annually each spring, a repeat session is also held in the fall due to overwhelming demand.

As life spans increase, so does the interest in “healthy aging,” especially in Hawaiʻi, where life expectancy is the longest in the country. By the end of the decade, Hawaiʻi will lead the nation in percentage of seniors in the population, with one-third of its residents aged 65 years or older.

The Mini-Medical School is led by Kamal Masaki, professor and chair of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, with assistance from Chang Kim, the program鈥檚 director of operations. Masaki took over the program amid the ever-evolving pandemic, and with an eye toward safety for her students, faculty and staff, she has transitioned the normally in-person five-week course online via Zoom. Several practice sessions were held for the students prior to the start of the program, giving them an opportunity to learn how to use Zoom.

The current session has proven that JABSOM鈥檚 medical students aren鈥檛 the only ones in their families with a thirst for learning, as several of them picked up the course binder and materials for their parents and grandparents who are enrolled in the Mini-Medical School.

—By TC Chun

Editor’s note: Early access to the draft manuscript is being made available due to its timely content.

Chronological age, a topic that often comes up during presidential elections, should not be a factor in the 2020 election. A study, involving a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 researcher, in the , concluded that both presidential candidates鈥攆ormer Vice President Joe Biden, 77, and President Donald Trump, 74鈥攁re likely to maintain their health beyond the end of the next presidential term.

“Both candidates appear to be on course to become ‘super-agers,’ men and women who live into their eighties or longer, with preserved physical and cognitive function,” said co-author Bradley Willcox, director of research in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at the (JABSOM). “They face lower than average risk of experiencing significant health or cognitive functioning challenges during the next four years.”

To evaluate each candidate鈥檚 likelihood of surviving a four-year term in office, the researchers scientifically evaluated the candidates鈥� health status based on publicly available medical records and confirmed publicly available personal information. This is the first time that the medical records and personal attributes of presidential candidates have been scientifically evaluated by experts in the field of aging.

Willcox has a long history of aging-related research, along with study reviewer and adjunct JABSOM faculty (and twin brother), Craig Willcox at 东精影业, Kuakini Medical Center鈥檚 Honolulu Heart Program – Center for Translational Research on Aging, and the Okinawa Centenarian Study, which has allowed the brothers to examine thousands of super-agers.

Key findings

• Biden and Trump are likely to be “super-agers,” a subgroup of people that maintain their mental and physical functioning and tend to live longer than the average person their age.
• Both candidates have a higher than average probability of surviving a four-year term in office, relative to other men their age. For Biden, the probability of surviving the next four years is 95.2% (vs. 82.2%). For Trump, this is 90.3% (vs. 86.2%).
• Biden is expected to outlive Trump, even though he is three years older. The researchers note Biden鈥檚 “nearly perfect health profile for a man his age,” compared with Trump鈥檚 “significant but modifiable” risk factors.
• While Trump is noted to have an elevated familial risk of late-onset Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, neither candidate is expected to have major cognitive functioning challenges now or during the next four years.

Biological age more important

“The results are evidence that age does not matter in this historic election in which the next elected president will be the oldest in American history,” said corresponding author Stuart Jay Olshansky, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “We see chronical age as a topic of discussion time and again during elections, even though scientific and medical evidence tells us that biological age is far more important.”

According to the researchers, biological age is reflective of how rapidly a body is growing old, which occurs at different rates and is influenced by genetics, behavioral and social risk factors.

Added Willcox, “The weaponizing of aging to portray the opposing candidate as a doddering old fool, in the presidential campaign, is ageism, pure and simple. In this election, each candidate is biologically younger than their chronological age.”

“We live in an aging society, and it鈥檚 important that we value, respect and continue to have a place in our culture for people of all ages. No one should be discounted from any position, even the presidency, based on their age,” said Olshansky.

Observing the rate at which COVID-19 has afflicted the globe, Hawaiʻi government officials put in place stringent controls to protect its residents from the rapidly spreading virus. The state has flattened the curve, but staying flat depends on keeping social distancing guidelines in place, especially in senior living and nursing facilities.

Patricia Blanchette, founder of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 鈥檚 (JABSOM) geriatric medicine department, sensed that coronavirus could sweep through Hawaiʻi鈥檚 senior facilities if there was any hesitation in executing protective measures.

Thirteen of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 nursing and senior living facilities, as well as two hospices, are where JABSOM and its faculty practice organization, University Health Partners, have placed geriatricians to serve as medical directors and associate directors. They are teachers for the department鈥檚 Teaching Nursing Home program and train medical students, residents and fellows in geriatric medicine.

“I recommended in early March that these medical facilities close to family, casual visitors and volunteers. Also, at entry, the nursing facility should screen employees, doctors, nurse practitioners and therapists before allowing them into the facility. We recommended wearing masks, taking everyone鈥檚 temperature at the door and not allowing anyone to enter if they had traveled out of state over the past 14 days or had symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19,” Blanchette said. “This was the imposition of an early quarantine.”

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—By Paula Bender

When Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige touted telehealth as a key component in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic at an April 16 news conference, it marked a milestone moment for the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (PBTRC). Since it was established in 2010, PBTRC has been advocating for telehealth, the delivery of healthcare via telecommunications technology like video conferencing, online and telephone.

“Telehealth adoption in Hawaiʻi was only about 20.5 percent before COVID-19 and now I鈥檝e witnessed more progress in the past few weeks than I have in the last several years,” said PBTRC Co-Director Christina Higa, a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty member. “It has been amazing to see so many people and organizations coming together and work tirelessly to keep people safe and healthy.”

• Related 东精影业 News story: 东精影业 med school develops COVID-19 screening tool, April 17, 2020

PBTRC helping in COVID-19 response

PBTRC plays an important role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the demands for screening, testing and safe healthcare continue to skyrocket. The center is assisting the Hawaiʻi healthcare community with the transition including telecommunication aspects.

“Telehealth plays a major role in minimizing patients, families and healthcare providers potential exposure to COVID-19 by providing healthcare in the safety and convenience of their home,” said PBTRC Co-Director Deborah Peters, a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) faculty member. “This is especially important for people with chronic diseases and those who need ongoing care.”

The center鈥檚 decade-long commitment to expanding the availability of healthcare via telehealth has better prepared Hawaiʻi for this moment. In support of the overwhelming assistance requests during this outbreak, PBTRC began conducting weekly telehealth training and arranging for experienced telehealth providers to train those just getting started. The center also assists multiple provider groups, including the Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association and the Native Hawaiian Health Systems.

PBTRC and JABSOM鈥檚 plan to host training for the skilled nursing facilities, long-term care, hospice and other elderly care providers in the context of COVID-19.

东精影业 program part of national consortium

The center is one of 14 federally funded telehealth resource centers in the U.S. and is a member of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers.

“It is one of our strengths as we have a wide network of support across the country and share best practices,” said Peters. “The consortium tracks federal law and policies that make telehealth more accessible.”

PBTRC now tracks and notifies local authorities on the sweeping federal and state emergency policies adopted in response to the pandemic.

“We work with local state agencies including the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and the state Medicaid program to identify needed state emergency waivers, and policies to match federal actions and meet community needs,” said Higa.

At their request PBTRC often provides assistance to legislators as they work to address telehealth reimbursement, broadband, licensing and other issues. The center facilitated input from stakeholders that contributed to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 progressive telehealth state law adopted in 2016.

More on PBTRC

The center is a collaboration between 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 College of Social Sciences and JABSOM and is part of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Social Science Research Institute. It is funded through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. PBTRC鈥檚 service area includes Hawaiʻi; Pacific Island Territories including Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Pacific Islands with a compact of free association with the U.S. including the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau.

for telehealth and COVID-19 resources for providers, patients and families.

For the first time, Hawaiʻi professionals have been chosen for the exclusive Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars Program. Seven of those chosen are University of Hawaiʻi faculty.

is a national leadership development program for multidisciplinary health care providers who tackle complex health problems affecting their communities. The program funds projects with the ultimate goal of making America a healthier nation while developing a network of leaders.

This year, Hawaiʻi is the only state with two teams. The Hawaiʻi teams are focused on addressing issues on diabetes and housing insecurity as well as elderly health care.

(JABSOM) Assistant Professor Dee-Ann Carpenter leads the team, “Empowering Hawaiʻis Homeless: Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Education and Resilience Initiative.” Collaborating with Marjorie Mau (JABSOM), Camlyn Masuda (东精影业 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy), Aukahi Austin Seabury (I Ola Lāhui) and Francie Julien-Chinn (东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work), the team will be working with the JABSOM Hawaiʻi Homeless Outreach and Medical Education (HOME) Project to develop an education and resilience program for homeless people who are pre-diabetic or diabetic.

“We hope to be able to effectively train future students, residents, volunteers and shelter staff to be better prepared for serving the homeless populations who either have diabetes mellitus (DM) or are pre-diabetic,” said Carpenter. “In addition, this is a great opportunity to learn from a wonderful organization about leadership both as individuals and as a team. I personally am looking forward to this training.”

“The KOKUA Project: K奴puna Outreach and Knowledge in Underserved Areas” team is led by Pia Lorenzo (JABSOM) in collaboration with Robin Miyamoto (JABSOM) and Chad Kawakami (东精影业 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy). Their project aims to improve the care of the 办奴辫耻苍补 in underserved rural communities, especially since Hawaiʻi鈥檚 aging population is growing rapidly while the state does not have enough geriatric specialists to meet their complex needs.

“I鈥檝e experienced first-hand the heartache of too many of our 办奴辫耻苍补 falling through the cracks due to systems issues despite the best efforts of dedicated health care professionals. Being a part of the RWJF Clinical Scholars program enables our team to get in the trenches with our colleagues fighting the good fight in underserved community health care centers,” said Lorenzo. “But now, with the RWJF鈥檚 support, we are able to help in a different way, and hopefully, in a way that creates a bigger and more lasting impact.”

—By Deborah Manog Dimaya

Hawaiʻi residents enjoy the longest life expectancy in the United States. Is it because they have more to live for, or are there other factors? The spring 2018 issue of the University of Hawaiʻi Magazine takes a closer look at cutting-edge research on geriatrics at 东精影业 and the data that shed light on why we live so long in the islands.

The issue also features the Kahuanui ʻohana, three generations of All-American athletes in multiple sports. Isla Young catches readers up on 19 years of the Women in Technology project, which reaches hundreds of teachers and thousands of students each year.

Alumni making the news include Susan Murray, who was honored by the YWCA of Oʻahu, for her leadership in healthcare, and Meredith Mawhar, named a Woman Who Means Business by Pacific Business News.

• View the or (PDF).

The bi-annual 东精影业 Magazine is published by Pacific Basin Communication in partnership with and highlights alumni accomplishments and exciting news from 东精影业鈥檚 10 campuses.

The proprietary Cardax astaxanthin compound CDX-085 developed by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) and Hawaiʻi based life sciences company . was selected by the for its anti-aging Interventions Testing Program. The institute is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“Getting into the Interventions Testing Program with the National Institute on Aging is a game-changer,” said Bradley Willcox, professor and director of research at JABSOM’s . 鈥淚t puts CDX-085, Cardax鈥檚 proprietary astaxanthin compound, into a very elite club of compounds that have the potential to become true anti-aging therapies.鈥� Willcox is principal investigator of the NIH-funded Kuakini Hawaiʻi LIFESPAN and HEALTHSPAN Studies and Cardax Scientific Advisory Board member.

In March of this year, JABSOM and Cardax jointly announced that CDX-085 showed the ability to significantly activate the FOXO3 gene in mice, which plays a proven role in longevity.

“Out of all the compounds they could have chosen, they chose ours,” said David G. Watumull, Cardax CEO. “It’s an important validation of the work that we’ve done here in Hawaiʻi.”

The National Institute on Aging ranked the proposal submitted by Willcox and Richard Allsopp, associate professor at JABSOM’s , a “high priority,” its highest ranking.

“The information we get from the ITP is going to be quite significant and should greatly enhance our knowledge of how astaxanthin/CDX-085 affects aging,” said Allsopp.

The National Institute on Aging funds the rigorous and extensive studies included in the ITP, which are conducted at several labs across the country.

The ITP will build upon the research by JABSOM and Cardax demonstrating the ability of CDX-085 to activate the important anti-aging gene FOXO3 in mice. CDX-085, like the company’s first generation dietary supplement, ZanthoSyn™, delivers astaxanthin to the bloodstream with optimal absorption and purity.

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—By Tina Shelton

Promising anti-aging results have been shown by a study of the compound Astaxanthin by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi in partnership with the life sciences company .

The Astaxanthin compound CDX-085, developed by Cardax, showed the ability to significantly increase the expression of the FOXO3 gene, which plays a proven role in longevity.

“All of us have the FOXO3 gene, which protects against aging in humans,” said Bradley Willcox, professor and director of research at the , JABSOM, and principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded Kuakini Hawaiʻi Lifespan and Healthspan Studies. “But about one in three persons carry a version of the FOXO3 gene that is associated with longevity. By activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, we can make it act like the ‘longevity’ version. Through this research, we have shown that Astaxanthin ‘activates’ the FOXO3 gene,” said Willcox.

“This preliminary study was the first of its kind to test the potential of Astaxanthin to activate the FOXO3 gene in mammals,” said Richard Allsopp, associate professor, and researcher with the JABSOM .

In the study, mice were fed either normal food or food containing a low or high dose of the Astaxanthin compound CDX-085 provided by Cardax. The animals that were fed the higher amount of the Astaxanthin compound experienced a significant increase in the activation of the FOXO3 gene in their heart tissue.

“We found a nearly 90 percent increase in the activation of the FOXO3 ‘Longevity Gene’ in the mice fed the higher dose of the Astaxanthin compound CDX-085,” said Allsopp.

“This groundbreaking University of Hawaiʻi research further supports the critical role of Astaxanthin in health and why the healthcare community is embracing its use,” said David G. Watumull, Cardax CEO. “We look forward to further confirmation in human clinical trials of Astaxanthin’s role in aging.”

“We are extremely proud of our collaborative efforts with Cardax on this very promising research that may help mitigate the effects of aging in humans,” said 东精影业 Vice President of Research Vassilis L. Syrmos. “This is a great example of what the Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative is all about—when the private sector and government join forces to build a thriving innovation, research, education and job training enterprise to help diversify the state’s economy.”

Read more about the .

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—By Tina Shelton

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s has received a three-year grant for $1 million for the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative-Specialized Supportive Services Project from the , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hawaiʻi is one of 11 states to receive such a grant.

The grant will be utilized by the Center on Aging to “fill gaps in dementia-capable long-term services and supports for persons living with or those at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers by providing quality, person-centered services that help them remain independent and safe in their communities.”

The Center on Aging will work with community partners and providers to target community dwelling seniors and caregivers, including those with memory loss who live alone; primary-care providers and allied health professionals; persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who develop memory loss; and those with moderate to advanced dementia.

Making Hawaiʻi more dementia-capable

Christy Nishita, acting director of the Center on Aging, is committed to making brain health and dementia an important part of the work there. “We look forward to making the state more dementia-capable and providing valuable and needed support for our Hawaiʻi residents living with cognitive impairment, their families and caregivers," said Nishita. The Center on Aging will create a new Hawaiʻi Brain Health and Dementia website, a one-stop resource for information, links and information about the grant activities.

Said Erin Long, program officer for the Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services for the Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living, “We are very excited to provide financial resources and technical assistance to the 东精影业 Center on Aging in support of the expansion of dementia capable services throughout Hawaiʻi. People with dementia and their caregivers have unique and specialized needs as they relate to long-term services and supports, and this project through the Center on Aging will aim to meet those needs over the course of the grant.”

Dementia is a global public health crisis

Dementia is considered a global public health crisis. The need for a cure or prevention of Alzheimer’s is a top focus for scientists and researchers worldwide. According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Facts and Figures, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Someone in the U.S. develops the disease every 67 seconds. It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans of all ages are living with the disease.

The greatest risk factor for dementia is age, with memory loss affecting almost half of those over age 85. This is significant for Hawaiʻi because of its highest life expectancy of any state, with the elderly growth rate exceeding the national average.

In Hawaiʻi there are 26,000 people aged 65 and older with ADRD. This will grow to 35,000 by 2025, an increase of 34.6 percent. These figures do not include those who are undiagnosed or who develop dementia before age 65. As many as half of those who meet the diagnostic criteria for ADRD have not received a diagnosis from a physician. Furthermore, there are approximately 65,000 dementia caregivers in Hawaiʻi who deliver 73 million hours of unpaid care, who need improved services and support.

Sustainable goals and objectives of the Hawaiʻi project

1. Increase dementia-capability in Hawaiʻi’s communities by replicating and enhancing the patient-centered medical home (PCHM) model of memory clinics in federally qualified community health community centers.
2. Enhance long-term services and supports for persons with dementia and their caregivers by implementing a Memory Care Navigators Program, with special focus on persons with cognitive impairment living alone and those who have moderate to advanced stage dementia.
3. Increase early detection and accurate diagnosis of dementia in high-risk populations, such as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by training health professionals working with this population.
4. Cultivate dementia-capability within Hawaiʻi’s workforce and among allied health professionals to improve person- and family-centered care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers into the future by providing dementia-specific training.
5. Improve the quality of life for those with moderate to advanced dementia by increasing enrollment in hospice and palliative care programs.
6. Deliver no-cost evidence-based behavioral symptom management training and expert consultation to families and caregivers to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of community dwelling persons with challenging dementia behaviors.

Co-principal Investigators of the grant are Nishita and Ritabelle Fernandes, associate professor, 东精影业 Mānoa Department of .