The shortage of geriatricians nationwide is staggering—demand 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 Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (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 Dr. Rosita Leong Mini-Med School. “Hawaiʻi has so many seniors—how much better would things be if we had more geriatricians?”
Professor and Chair of JABSOM’s Department of Geriatric Medicine Kamal Masaki recognizes the paradox: “It’s 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 UH 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 UH Mānoa, Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University.
With these two pilot programs underway, Masaki is excited for the future of geriatric care in Hawaiʻi.
“They’re 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’m so thrilled,” said Masaki of the donors’ generosity. “The more people that go into the field of geriatrics, I think it’ll be better for our community.”
