The American Public Health Association appointed University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Maile Taualii a member of its executive board. Taualii is the first Native Hawaiian to serve on the board of the 139-year-old organization, the oldest and largest public health organization in the world.
Taualii is an assistant professor and chair of health policy and management in the Office of Public Health Studies and an assistant professor in Native Hawaiian health in the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Taualii teaches a number of courses which focus on indigenous health and has expertise in informatics and public health genetics.
She is a member of APHA and has served as chair of its American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian Caucus.
“Dr. Taualii is an emerging young leader in public health, whose enthusiasm for eliminating disparities in indigenous populations has merited the attention of the American Public Health Association Board,” said Jay Maddock, chair of Mānoa’s Office of Public Health Studies. “Having her on the board helps draw national attention to public health issues in Hawaiʻi.”
“I’ve had the pleasure and honor of being mentored by a number of great leaders in Native Hawaiian health including Kekuni Blaisdell, Mele Look, JoAnn Tsark, Kathryn Braun, Emmett Aluli and many more,” said Taualii. “Their aloha has given me the strength and dedication to serve indigenous people throughout the world. It’s my goal in life to make them proud and do my best to build off the amazing work they have done.”
