The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa supports one of the leading medical education institutions and cancer centers in the United States. The John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) and the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, collectively, generated $510.6 million in total added income to Oʻahu’s economy in fiscal year 2015 as highlighted in the economic impact analysis conducted by Economic Modeling Specialists International. This impact is equal to 0.9 percent of Oʻahu’s gross regional product and is equivalent to the creation of 5,972 new jobs in Hawaiʻi.
The Kakaʻako health and wellness campus serves the entire state. Dedicated faculty and staff members work to develop cutting-edge treatments to fight cancer and train the next generation of physicians. The campus, envisioned in the early 2000s by the former Governor of Hawaiʻi Ben Cayetano and the late and former John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Edwin Cadman, celebrated its 10th anniversary in September 2015. The duo’s vision was to not only provide a home for the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the UH Cancer Center, but to assist in one of Hawaiʻi’s state goals “to diversify the economy with the biotechnology industry” (Cadman at a UH Board of Regents meeting in 2005).
The state-of-the-art health sciences and cancer research laboratories, medical library, willed body cadaver lab, translational research clinic, medical education and administrative office space on the campus serves more than 600 students and more than 1,300 employees. Additionally, as the state’s and UH’s only medical school and research-focused cancer center, JABSOM and the National Cancer Institute-designated UH Cancer Center provide community-based health education, research and service on behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi.
The vision of Cayetano, Cadman and many legislative and community leaders to create a vibrant, health and wellness campus in Kakaʻako has taken a decade to evolve, but is clearly making a significant contribution to the Hawaiʻi state economy and to the lives of all in Hawaiʻi.
Economic impact reports
- Executive summary (PDF)
- Main impact study (PDF)
- John A. Burns School of Medicine fact sheet (PDF)
- UH Cancer Center fact sheet (PDF)
More on Economic Modeling Specialists International
Economic Modeling Specialists International, a CareerBuilder company, is a leading provider of economic impact studies and labor market data to educational institutions, workforce planners and regional developers in the U.S. and internationally. Since 2000, Economic Modeling Specialists International has completed more than 1,200 economic impact studies for educational institutions in four countries.
—By Nana Ohkawa
