Proudest Moments:

1. Delivering a baby girl and telling her “Happy Birthday”
2. Getting to be a medical student in Hawaii with amazing family and friends
3. Convincing Dr. Martina Kamaka to take all of the Native Hawaiian Health crew to the Big Island

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"To me, humanism means exactly that - to treat patients like family and to embrace their needs and feelings when providing care. This extends to having empathy and placing myself in their shoes, seeing what their personal needs and interests are, and creating a care plan that suits them."

Proudest Moments:

1. Completing ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program and being accepted to JABSOM
2. Having the opportunity to come back to the Big Island for third year rotations
3. Scoring over a 200 in bowling for high school.

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"I have learned that humanism is about the little things you do that leave a big impact on a patient and their quality of life. Humanism involves sitting down with patients and discussing how “humbug” hospital stays can be, holding a patient’s hand during a bedside procedure when they were nervous, and updating patients’ families on the phone to provide a space for them to share their concerns for their loved ones."

Proudest Moments:

1. When I found out a patient's mom was very grateful I made her daughter feel safe and comfortable while getting examined.
2. Immersing myself in the Hilo community for 6L and helping to provide quality care to an underserved area. Many of whom have asked me to come back when I'm done training!
3. Being able to run 3 miles straight (Debatable if I can still do this after 3rd year haha)

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"Humanism is the art of medicine. It's the sprinkle of flavor that makes this career so exciting. It is looking beyond the chart and more at the person that's sitting in front of you. What high school they went to, how many kids they have, what their hobbies are. Patients do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Proudest Moments:

1. Coming from a rural public school background and utilizing the tools my teachers taught me over the years to succeed.
2. Having the opportunity to return home to Maui during third year clinical rotations to serve my community and learn from our diverse patient population.
3. Hiking 12 miles through Haleakala crater in whipping wind and rain.

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"To me, the significance of humanism extends far beyond the field of medicine. To express humanism in the practice of medicine is just as vital as expressing humanism in every other aspect of life."

Proudest Moments:

1. Getting into medical school
2. Having a patient tell me that they're grateful for my care
3. Completing my very first crochet project

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"Practicing compassionate care is recognizing that at the heart of medicine there are patients who similarly to ourselves have friends, families, and hopes & dreams."

Proudest Moments:

1. Spending hours talking to a patient with end stage colon cancer before they passed shortly after the end of my rotation. We talked about food, family, life, victories, and losses. I am thankful to have shared all that time with such a lovely, wise person; they provided so much hope and guidance regarding my thinking about the physician I want to be.
2. Helping to plan our class's in-person white coat ceremony. Seeing all of our classmates' smiles with their loved ones made EVERYTHING worth it ... I will never forget the love and support from my own friends and family.
3. Completing the ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program. It gave me a sense of drive and purpose.

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"We do not get to choose how much time we get in our lives, but what a pleasure it is knowing that we get to spend so much of it healing others and potentially granting their lives more time. Humanism in medicine, to me, is going the extra mile to listen and care for the things that makes our patients human; getting them back to the things that give their life purpose because their lives give us purpose."

Proudest Moments:

1. Getting into medical school
2. Getting to know patients better through their stories
3. Getting closer to classmates during inpatient rotations

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"Practicing humanism in medicine requires us to incorporate compassion with competency. While pushing ourselves to grow in knowledge, we must not neglect the push to grow in kindness, tending to our own emotions in order to better our ability to care for others."

Proudest Moments:

1. I learned how to play the guitar as stress relief when studying for the MCAT and the ukulele when quarantining before entering JABSOM. Throughout my inpatient rotations, I played music and sang for my patients to help get their minds off their situations. It was really rewarding to see how my previous stress outlets have the potential to help others.
2. Establishing a humanities journal alongside classmates and faculty in promotion of self-reflection, self-expression, and mental well-being
https://osa.jabsom.hawaii.edu/mauli/
3. Raising awareness of gender disparities in academic productivity within neurosurgical residencies by conducting a research project and getting published in one of the highest ranked neurosurgical journals in the nation

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"My dad has taught me so much with how he is handling his own health conditions. He taught me the importance of acknowledging pain and suffering, but not allowing these challenges to become your identity. He taught me the importance of actively deciding to maintain your humanity despite the severity or bleakness of your personal condition. With this is mind, I actively strive to see my patients for who they are, and not just as their diagnoses. I aim to use my words and actions to positively influence those around me, being mindful as to how I can make a positive difference—no matter how big or how small."

Proudest Moments:

1. Being accepted into medical school!
2. Telling my grandma that I passed my Step 1 exam and hearing her cry (happy tears!)
3. Having the opportunity to teach local high school students about gender and sexual identities to promote inclusivity, self-confidence, and personal wellness

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

“… by learning the patient's priorities and adjusting their care accordingly, upholding their autonomy, and respecting their dignity. Humanism in medicine means being physically, mentally, and emotionally present in our interactions with patients."

Proudest Moments:

1. Founding JABSOM's "Rainbow Pride Alliance", an interest group dedicated to LGBTQ health
2. Learning to play "Vienna" by Billy Joel on the piano
3. Hearing my family, friends, and patients say they trust me to be their future provider

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"In addition to being an excellent diagnostician and treatment provider, a good physician is someone who lends a gentle touch when it is needed most. Someone who cares for her patients in every sense of the word. And as this journey through medicine continues, I am being constantly reminded how nothing can replace the sharing of common humanity with patients during difficult times."

Proudest Moments:

1. When a patient, after a lengthy hospitalization without his family, thanked me for being there for him, and told me I would make a great physician one day.
2. Being able to learn and grow alongside my amazing classmates.
3. Catching my very first wave!

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"Humanism in medicine, altogether, means putting patients first. It means that we, as physicians, are to promote understanding of the human experience during often-dehumanizing times, for medicine is more than mere numbers and figures—it is about the connections we make with our patients, particularly during states of vulnerability."

Proudest Moments:

1. Returning back to my home island on Kauai as an MS3 and having patients tell me that they can't wait for me to be their doctor.
2. Graduating the 'Imi Ho'ōla Post-Baccalaureate Program.
3. Mentoring students from my high school alma mater who are aspiring to go into the medical field.

Thoughts on Humanism in Medicine:

"Being human is an extremely messy and unpredictable job. As a result, humanism in medicine means understanding and accepting the factors that surround a patient, including those they can and cannot control, and using this knowledge to provide people with a better, healthier life."