The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) welcomed an all-wahine class of 10 to its ʻImi Hoʻola Post-Baccalaureate Program (ʻImi) for the second time in the last four years.
The one-year program, which supports students from underserved communities with ties to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific on a path to medical school, gathered for an Open House in August.
“The Open House is an opportunity for family and friends of our students to get a chance to learn more about the program and understand what their learner will be doing for the next year,” said Kimberly Yamauchi, interim director of the ʻImi Hoʻola program.
The students received an inspirational message from and were formally introduced to JABSOM leaders. Previous ʻImi students answered questions from current students and their families.
Students gain inspiration, support
Last year, Kai Hirayama sat in the auditorium, listening and learning from past ʻImi students. This year, as one of the nine who completed the program, he gave advice and shared insights on navigating the program, which many affectionately refer to as “medical school boot camp.”
“The amount of support I’ve gained and how much family I’ve gained throughout the journey was also special, so hopefully, I could give that little insight to the current ʻImi students as well,” Hirayama said.
Diana Huynh is beginning her journey in ʻImi this year. She attended Roosevelt High School and grew up in Kalihi, and is committed to serving the state. The Open House gave her inspiration to get through the program.
“In the beginning, as I was looking over the syllabus and what was expected, it seemed impossible,” Huynh said. “We have this amazing team behind us, from our friends, families, cohorts, teachers and physicians; they’re all very supportive.”
The unfiltered discussion revealed the realities of ʻImi to the students’ families and friends. Graduates from the class of 2024 reflected on the dedication required during their studies which included making adjustments in their personal lives.
Those who complete ʻImi Hoʻola receive automatic admission to JABSOM.
“The Hawaiʻi community raised me—not just my family, but the whole community here, and I just want to give back to them,” Huynh said. “I really want to practice in Hawaiʻi, particularly in primary care with specialties in endocrinology, so that’s my end goal: to serve my communities here.”
