Mahalo to everyone who joined us for the Samoan Heritage Initiative Program Festival! Thank you also to our wonderful volunteers who provided health screenings and information to our guests!

On Saturday, 11/4, over fifty residents, faculty, staff, and community partners harvested and prepared kalo together at Kīpukaoha, our West O‘ahu Medical Office. Working alongside JABSOM faculty, 'Ahahui o nā Kauka, Nanakuli High & Intermediate School teachers and students, and UH West O‘ahu faculty and students. This was a great opportunity for our residents to mentor students at multiple levels as they pursue a career in medicine. Witnessing multiple generations come together to collaborate was truly inspiring.

The Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program’s mission is to serve the community of Hawaii. We offer immersive community experience on the Neighbor Islands including Maui.

It's been over a week since the start of the devastating Maui wildfires, and for many of us, this week has been a blur. We’re endlessly grateful to all who’ve leaned in to care for our colleagues, members, and the Maui community.

To assist with the Maui wildfires response, the Kaiser Permanente Social Services Department has compiled a list of community resources. Please access our Maui Wildfires Resource Handbook for the latest information. As the situation evolves, so will the resources. Find the latest version of this document on kp.org/maui-fires.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the Maui wildfires.

With every year that passes, it becomes clearer how important it is that our veteran physicians, providers, and staff pass on knowledge, insights, and expertise that will help the next generation at KP Hawaii stay successful.
 
Recently we celebrated another milestone for the KP Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program, which held its graduation banquet a few weekends ago. Our heartfelt congratulations go to each of the four graduating residents for their hard work, dedication, and achievements throughout their time in the program. It fills us with immense pride to know that some of our exceptional graduates will continue their journey with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, continuing to provide outstanding care to our patients. 

In addition, HPMG welcomed five new residents to the program with the annual white coat ceremony on Monday, June 12. This marked the beginning of a new journey for these talented interns as they embark on a noble path of healing and service.

There are dozens of clinicians and other mentors at KP Hawaii who precept and help train our residents as well as visiting residents, medical students, and other students interested in the health care profession. This collective effort plays a vital role in nurturing the talents of our newcomers and demonstrating the power of our Kaiser Permanente model to those who are less familiar with how we work.

Let’s continue to foster an environment of mentorship and educational excellence at KP Hawaii. Together, we have the power to shape the future of health care and make a lasting difference in our island communities.

With great appreciation,

John and Greg

We want to thank the Healthy Athletes volunteers (including KPHI IM Residents, faculty, staff, and community volunteers) for your help at the Special Olympics Hawaii Healthy Athletes FUNFitness and Health Promotion stations in May 2023 and continuing to further support Special Olympics in their mission of inclusion and inclusive health.

The KPHI IM Residency’s Program Director, Dr. Jennifer Katada, is the Clinical Director for Health Promotion.

The Health Promotion discipline focuses on prevention and nutrition.  Health Promotion volunteers interview athletes to assess their health habits and conduct health screenings in three key areas: body mass index, blood pressure, and bone density.

In addition, Health Promotion uses interactive educational tools and displays, motivational literature, and demonstrations to encourage and enhance healthy behaviors, such as eating fruits and vegetables, handwashing, sun safety, smoking cessation, and self-advocacy.

Middle school students from the Nā Pua Noʻeau Summer Tour spent their morning with KP Hawaii providers and staff, including incoming co-chief resident, Dr. Ethan Chun (far right) at KP West O'ahu Medical Office. The students are a part of the health track, one of four tracks available for this summer program, and they come from all around the state, including Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi island, and Oʻahu. The students were able to tour the clinic, harvest and prepare kalo and hear from clinic chief, Dr. Marcus Iwane (3rd from left), about climate change and how it affects health. As an added bonus, the mobile health vehicle (pictured above) was onsite and the students were thrilled to have the opportunity to explore it. The students were very engaged and expressed their interest in working for KP in the future. 

Congratulations to our very own associate program director, Hisami Oba, MD, (far left) who is one of three physicians featured on the cover of Honolulu Magazine's June issue featuring the annual list of Top Doctors in Hawaii. Dr. Oba is one of 222 physicians at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii who were named Castle Connolly Top Doctors and Rising Stars in 2023. 

The Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program held its annual banquet on Saturday, May 20 at Natsunoya Tea House. The event celebrated the conclusion of the program's 2022-2023 year, recognized the recipients of the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Awards, honored graduating residents, and thanked faculty. See below for a video recap.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Award Recipients

Intern of the Year

Kellen Bean, MD

PGY-1

This award is faculty-selected and recognizes an intern for outstanding attitude, behavior, and professional growth during their internship.

Program Director's Spirit Award

Ethan Chun, MD

PGY-3

This award is Program Director-selected and recognizes a graduating resident who has embodied the attributes that the Program Director looks for in an aspirational resident – hard work, humility and a sense of service.

Upper Level Resident of the Year
Helena Holmgren, MD
PGY-3

This award is faculty-selected and recognizes an upper level resident whose combination of clinical promise, dedication to patient care, leadership, and professionalism distinguished them from their peers.

Excellence in Research
Helena Holmgren, MD
PGY-3

This award is Program-selected and recognizes a resident for scholarly excellence.

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Inpatient Medicine Faculty of the Year
Raquel Tello, MD
Hospital Medicine

This award is resident-selected and presented to the inpatient medicine faculty member who has served as a teacher, role-model, and inspiration to the Kaiser Permanente Internal Medicine Residents.

Subspecialty Faculty of the Year
Ali Merchant, MD
Cardiology

This award is resident-selected and presented to the subspecialty faculty member who has served as a teacher, role-model, and inspiration to the Kaiser Permanente Internal Medicine Residents.

Ambulatory Medicine Faculty of the Year
Mitch Motooka, MD
Internal Medicine

This award is resident-selected and presented to the ambulatory medicine faculty member who has served as a teacher, role-model, and inspiration to the Kaiser Permanente Internal Medicine Residents.

Dr. Geoffrey Sewell Award
Marcus Iwane, MD (Internal Medicine), and Maile Tauali'i, PhD, MPH (Assistant Clinical Investigator)
This award is Program-selected and recognizes the Residency Department Faculty Lead for excellence in education leadership.

PGY-3 Internal Medicine Resident Graduates

Kiana Choo Loy, MD, will begin a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at the University of Hawaii.

​Ethan Chun, MD, will serve as Co-Chief Resident for Ambulatory Medicine for the KP Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Helena Holmgren, MD, will serve as Co-Chief Resident of Inpatient Medicine for the KP Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program.

​Jordan Jensen, MD, will join HPMG’s Hospital Medicine Department at Moanalua Medical Center.

Mahalo to all of our KP Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program leadership, faculty, preceptors, and administrative staff for their incredible guidance and support during the 2022-2023 program year!​​