Anna-Kaelle Ramos, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), fulfilled a childhood dream by matching into the UH 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 UH 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.
