Latest news with #JohnA.BurnsSchoolofMedicine
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
44% shortfall in Hawaiʻi deepens crisis
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Every May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month shines a spotlight on the importance of communication. At the University of Hawaiʻi's John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), faculty and students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) are doing more than just raising awareness. They are actively reshaping access to speech, language and hearing care across the state. 'They're awesome:' How JABSOM helps Hawaii's keiki get ready for school 'We're the only graduate program in Hawaiʻi that's accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,' said Pauline Mashima, PhD, Graduate Program Chair, JABSOM Communication Sciences and Disorders. 'Our mission is to prepare future speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, to transform and improve the quality of life for people of all ages with speech, language, hearing, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders.' And that mission is urgent here in Hawaiʻi. 'Our program plays a vital role in addressing a severe workforce crisis in Hawaiʻi, with a reported 44% shortfall of speech-language pathologists to serve the needs of our local population,' Dr. Mashima said. 'This shortage is expected to increase because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for SLPs in our state will rise 24% between 2020 and 2030.' 'There's a huge need for speech-language pathologists across all settings, especially in the Department of Education,' said Kayla Kawamura, MS, Clinical Instructor. 'The shortage is over 40% in our state, which is crazy, especially on the outer islands.' That shortage doesn't just affect children in schools. Adults recovering from strokes, those with Parkinson's disease and kūpuna with hearing loss all need care, too. The work being done at JABSOM's clinic is a testament to how our educational system is working to fill in the cavern that exists between those with speech pathologies and those without them. 'We're a hidden gem right here in Kakaʻako,' said Brittany Evans, MS, CCC-SLP, Clinical Instructor. 'A lot of places have possibly like a six-month waiting list to get speech services. And with it being such high demand, we're here and ready to serve and take patients today.' And their work to bring these services everyone in Hawaiʻi, regardless of income, social or economic status or cultural background. 'A lot of the private clinics on island have very long waitlists,' added Kawamura. 'But we want the community to know our clinic is fully up and running. And we do have openings, and we're ready to serve you.' For speech pathologist, passion is a major driving force that directs their goals and initiatives. They believe that regardless of you are, your voice is needed to be heard. 'Speech-language pathologists, ultimately, what we believe is that every voice matters,' Kawamura said. 'We're all about building better communication, which lends itself to better connection. And that's all we want for our patients, is for them to feel better connected to their family members, to have meaningful relationships.'Making these services as personalized as possible is what is making this program successful. 'We really value individualized treatment,' Evans said. 'So, every patient that walks through our door is an individual; and we really want to honor their goals and why they're here.' She went on to explain further. 'So, for example, if a patient wants to work on overcoming some memory concerns to be able to go back to work or if a child wants to be able to say specific sounds to say their family members' names, we really want to take your input into consideration and make each program tailored,' Evans explained. And helping their patients set their goals and achieve those goals is one of the most rewarding parts of work. 'It's something that should be done across everywhere,' she added. 'Each person has their own goals, and if you're focusing on things that they want to work on, there's more chance of them improving.' Age doesn't matter when it comes to speech pathologies. You can be a toddler; you can be an elder. There are so many reasons speech pathologies occur. 'So, some of the common kiddos that come through our clinic have autism. They might be late talkers. We have kids who stutter,' Kawamura said. 'We also work with children who might not have the physical capability to speak. So, our job as speech-language pathologists is to find some kind of modality for them to communicate,' Kawamura explained. 'Oftentimes it might be with a picture board… or it might be an iPad device… to be like a voice for them.' Reading is one of the most important skills we learn in our modern society. And understanding how to read is directly impacted by speech pathologies. 'We're so fortunate to have secured a grant for our early literacy preschool program for children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old,' Kawamura said. 'We're working on things like pre-literacy skills, like, letter recognition [of] letter sounds, while also working on their speech and language goals.' 'Only 30% of the kindergartners demonstrated the skills for kindergarten entry,' Kawamura added. 'So, our hope with the early literacy program is to bridge that gap and get as many kids as possible prepared for kindergarten.' 'Our students are dedicated to serving our community,' Dr. Mashima said. 'For example, they volunteer here to conduct hearing screenings for athletes at the Hawaiʻi Special Olympics and participate in outreach events such as the annual Parkinson's Association Walk.' 'And we're deeply grateful for our community partners,' Dr. Mashima said. She cited the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation's Rosetta Fish Speech Therapy Fund, the Honolulu Stoma Club, the Daniel K. Akaka Family Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Departments of Education and Health. 'And, so, I always loved working with people, children and adults,' said Remy Kubota, JABSOM CSD Student. 'The opportunity to really just help people gain their voice and learn how to speak for themselves is such an amazing thing.' 'I chose this path because I really wanted to be able to help all different people and change their lives,' said Ellissa Wood, JABSOM CSD Student. If you or a loved one is having trouble with speech, hearing, memory or communication, the JABSOM Speech and Hearing Clinic is open and accepting new patients. Located on the sixth floor of the Gold Bond Building in Kakaʻako, the clinic serves everyone from keiki to kūpuna. 'We're actively responding to this crisis. We have licensed, certified faculty SLPs who provide direct services to patients,' Dr. Mashima said. 'They model and mentor person-centered, evidence-based care at the highest standards to educate and train students for careers as SLPs and our PhD faculty.' 'Ultimately, what we believe is that every voice matters,' Kawamura said. You can click to learn more about JABSOM's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 And every May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month is a powerful reminder that communication is a right, not a privilege. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hawai‘i students learn life-changing lessons from the dead
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaiʻi trains future doctors using one of the most powerful tools in medical education: the human body. But these aren't just learning tools. They are silent teachers, people who chose to donate their bodies to science so that others could live better, longer lives. DOH: Hawaii sees 'worrying' increase in whooping cough Every year, students, faculty and family members gather to honor these donors at the school's Willed Body Ceremony. It a service that's an act of love, recognition and gratitude. For relatives like Jed Davis, whose aunt and grandfather were both donors, the experience was personal and moving. 'You could tell a lot of care and love went into the planning and the production,' Davis said. 'It was so nice to celebrate not only the silent teachers, but the families of them who are here to celebrate them as well.' Here are the top things to know about this unique program and the powerful way it shapes both medicine and memory. From their first year, JABSOM students rely on donated bodies to understand human anatomy. It's a hands-on, immersive experience that helps them learn how organs function, how tissues are layered and what real bodies look like. It's an integral experience that provides so much more than textbook diagrams ever can. The experience is humbling. Students often describe their silent teachers as their first patients. They learn not only about the body, but about respect, responsibility and human connection. JABSOM's Willed Body Program is built on trust. That means every donor is honored, and every family is supported. Bodies are handled with professionalism and great care. 'To know that they were honored with that choice and cared for by the students that were involved and the staff, it means the world to all of us as the family members,' Davis said. 'The fact that they were cared for means everything to us.' From the time a body is received to the final memorial ceremony, dignity is at the center of every in two parts — one at the school and the other at Magic Island — the Willed Body Ceremony is open to the public and especially meaningful to families. It includes student reflections, hula and a paddle-out where ashes are scattered in the ocean. Davis described the day as 'fitting' and full of meaning. 'You could see how much it meant to the students and staff,' he said. It's also a rare opportunity. Most medical schools do not hold this kind of event, which allows families to meet the very students who benefited from their loved one's final gift. In July 2023, the program had to temporarily stop accepting new donations because so many people had chosen to give. That pause has now ended, and both new enrollments and body donations are once again being accepted. Applications are reviewed in the order they're received. The university has asked for patience as the program handles a high volume of inquiries. For many families, enrolling a loved one in the Willed Body Program is a way to give back to the community. Medical students become doctors who go on to treat thousands of people over their careers. A single donation can affect countless lives. 'If you make this choice, there's no better program to honor that choice,' Davis said. 'Take full advantage of wanting to give back to the community. There really couldn't be anything better.' The gift is not forgotten. It's remembered in every diagnosis made, every surgery done and every patient cared for by a JABSOM-trained doctor. Honolulu EMS honors newly promoted personnel The team behind the program includes doctors, researchers and administrative staff who work to make sure every donor is honored properly. Students often say the experience of working with a silent teacher stays with them their whole lives. JABSOM's mission is about education; and through this, it's reaching maikaʻi loa (lasting optimal health) for all. And that mission begins here, with the people who made the selfless choice to help others, even after death. Some people might wonder if their body will really make a difference. At JABSOM, the answer is always yes. Every donor, no matter their age or condition, contributes to the future of medicine. Whether they help a student learn how to treat cancer, perform surgery or understand the nervous system, each body plays a unique role. For Davis and many others, knowing that their loved ones were respected, even cherished, made the difficult decision a healing one. 'To see them treated that way,' Davis said, 'and to know they made a difference, it gives us peace.' To find out how to register for the Willed Body Program or ask questions about the process, click . The program staff are available to answer questions, help with paperwork and guide you through the steps. You'll also find contact information, frequently asked questions and more details about how the donations are used. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 The Willed Body Program is more than an academic tool. It's a bridge between generations. It's also a reminder that teaching and learning don't end with life. They continue, quietly, through those who give everything they have to help others grow. As Davis put it, 'It means everything to us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
10 things to know about Hawaiʻi's physician artists who are redefining what it means to heal
HONOLULU (KHON2) — At the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), there is a new addition to the great lawn. It's an art space unlike any other. The Ko Iki Mini Museum was created by Dr. Kathryn Ko, a nationally renowned neurosurgeon who is the Chief of Metro Neurosurgery in New York City. She is also artist. Dr. Ko brings a fresh perspective to how art can intersect with the world of medicine. Dr. Ko is a JABSOM alumna; and she founded the museum to make art more accessible to everyone, especially those in the medical field. The Ko Iki Mini Museum is a small, accessible art space located on the JABSOM campus in Kakaʻako. Created by Dr. Ko, the museum brings art directly to the community. It's been especially healing for those in the medical field. It draws inspiration from the free petite library movement as a way of making art available to everyone who passes by. 'I think art should be free and accessible to all,' Dr. Ko said. 'Sometimes people get intimidated going into a museum, so my idea was to bring the museum to them.' Situated on the great lawn of JABSOM, the museum provides a stress-free environment where medical students, faculty and the public can engage with art. It offers a moment of respite that allows people to take a break from their rigorous routines and find inspiration. After graduating from JABSOM, Dr. Ko completed her residency at Mount Sinai in New York City and nurtured her passion for painting alongside her medical career. 'Art was fundamentally important to making my neurosurgery career,' Dr. Ko said. 'It enriched it, and I was able to go from the operating room to the art studio, from the scalpel to the brush.' The museum features rotating exhibits, and the current one is showcasing 11 miniature paintings created by Dr. Ko herself. One standout piece highlights the precision of a surgeon's work, particularly the act of closing a wound with staples. It is said to symbolize both the healing process and the sacredness of surgery. 'When you hold a scalpel, it's sacred,' Dr. Ko explained. 'Every step you make as a surgeon, you cannot take your eye off it. The closing of the wound with staples signifies the end of a successful operation.' The museum operates like a small gallery. It displays rotating exhibits every six weeks. Themes alternate between art and science to provide a platform for both artists and medical professionals to express their creativity. Dr. Ko hopes to engage everyone in the medical environment — researchers, clinicians, groundskeepers and students — in the creative process. The museum also features a Ko Iki Kiosk, that offers free art supplies and mini canvases for anyone who wants to create and contribute museum encourages everyone to participate in the creative process. Visitors can take blank canvases and art supplies from the Ko Iki Kiosk at the Health Sciences Library, create their own artwork and return it for display. The artwork will then be offered for adoption in order to continue the cycle of inspiration. 'We want people to take art to their home or office and hopefully get some inspiration,' Dr. Ko said. Dr. Ko believes that art plays a vital role in the medical field. It helped her process the emotional and mental challenges of neurosurgery and allowed her to express her feelings in ways that weren't possible in the hospital. 'Art continues the story from the operating theater into the studio,' she explained. 'Through my art, I've been able to express my concern, care, and feelings in a way that I'm not able to talk about in the hospital setting.' Dr. Ko designed the Ko Iki Mini Museum to be a creative respite for medical students. The museum allows them to step outside their rigorous studies and engage with art and helps to maintain their humanity and creativity during their demanding careers. 'My aim is to keep creativity alive while you are in this rigorous, strenuous process and pathway to becoming a doctor,' Dr. Ko said. Dr. Ko envisions the Ko Iki Mini Museum inspiring other medical schools across the country to create similar spaces. Her hope is that small ideas, like the Ko Iki, can lead to big dreams and innovations. 'Small ideas and mini museums can lead to big careers, big ideas, and big dreams,' Dr. Ko said. JABSOM Interim Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Lum praised Dr. Ko's work and emphasized the importance of humanism in medicine. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'Art allows us to reflect on the different experiences that our medical students or physicians go through. That pause is significant to maintaining humanity in medicine,' he said. You can click to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Can't get a doctor appointment? You're not alone. All the ways the doctor shortage is hurting you
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The doctor shortage in Hawaii is very real. Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, a primary care physician and dean of Academic Affairs at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, said the numbers are staggering. The shortage isn't just several, or even tens of needed doctors. It's hundreds. State Senate unveils budget plan: Balancing cuts, crisis, key investments 'All physicians short based on the latest workforce report, is you know about 750 to 800,' Buenconsejo-Lum said. She said the highest percentage of those are PCPs with the shortage attributed to higher rate of doctors retiring and many moving out of state due to increased cost of practicing medicine in the islands. And while the doctor shortage isn't new, Healthcare Association of Hawaii President Hilton Raethel said it continues to create a host of problems including long waits. 'They may not be able to get in to see their physician for a number of days, if not weeks,' he even worse if you're trying to find a new PCP. 'I hear, on a regular basis, of people looking for six months just to find a PCP,' Raethel said. 'The PCPs who are here, many of them, or the majority of them, are already, have very full panels.' When people can't get an appointment they go to urgent care or the ER. Raethel said that's putting extra stress on emergency rooms. 'And the interesting thing is, we know that the population in Hawaii is not growing,' Raethel explained. 'But we have a number of hospitals over the last five or 10 years who've expanded or even doubled their emergency rooms and yet are still being very, very full.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news He said that's a critical indicator and added that the shortage of PCPs may also be contributing to more serious health issues because there's no one managing the overall care of patients, particularly those with long term chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. 'The good news is there are some initiatives, some very good initiatives going on,' Raethel said. 'We're trying to grow that pathway,' Buenconsejo-Lum added. Local nonprofit raises awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month She said that John A. Burns School of Medicine doubled its recruitment for family medicine physicians this year. They're also focusing on growing local doctors with 40% of their medical students training in Hawaii. 'Which is great cause we know that if they come to JABSOM and they do their residency training here, 85% of them are likely to stay here and practice,' Buenconsejo-Lum explained. The legislature is also requesting an additional $30 million for the health education loan repayment program to help new physicians pay down medical school debt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
