Philip Verhoef, MD, PhD (Associate Program Director, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program) was a panelist on Insights on PBS Hawai'i: The Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, which highlighted the long term health ramifications for COVID-19 survivors.
Other panelists included: Albert Rizzo, American Lung Association; Angela Keen, COVID-19 Survivor; and Gehan Devendra, MD, Pulmonologist, Queens.
In my last Program Director’s message, I offered a toast to 2020 with hopes that the vaccines which were being rolled out then would be the catalyst to bring normalcy back to our lives in 2021. I told our residents that it was not the time to let our guard down and used a football analogy that we had the ball first and goal on the opponent’s one yard line with a chance to score the game-winning touchdown. Don’t fumble the ball! Well, our residents didn’t fumble the ball, but the game has gone into overtime. We are still having to maintain distancing and conduct our meetings and interviews virtually.
In a year when so much had been suspended, I wanted to celebrate a few achievements in 2021. Congratulations to our Senior Class! We held a successful and safe pre-surge end of the year celebration in May. Our Chief Resident, Hisami Oba, made the transition to our primary care staff, faculty, and motherhood! And we welcomed five new interns to our program with the return of our traditional July 1st Team Build event held safely outdoors. We also launched two new electives: our Native Hawaiian Health elective headquartered in our newest office building in West Oahu and our Care Pathways (LGBTQ) elective.
I am grateful that our residency schedule and curriculum were not significantly impacted by COVID, and our residents are welcoming more patients into the clinic for office visits and continue to practice appropriate care by telehealth which, like many aspects of our lives now, shall represent the “new norm” going forward.
Pictured L-R: Mitch Motooka, MD; Kiana Choo Loy, MD; Ethan Chun, MD; Jordan Jensen, MD; Helena Holmgren, MD; Jennifer Katada, MD
On Friday, November 12, 2021, the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii PGY2 Internal Medicine residents presented Refining Prescribing Practices for High-Risk Medications in the Elderly to the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine departments via Microsoft Teams.
The University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine has promoted Philip Verhoef, MD, PhD (Associate Program Director, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program), to Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Verhoef has served a transformative role within KP Hawaii’s residency program, and he’s been instrumental in expanding rotational opportunities for student clerkships at Moanalua Medical Center.
On June 11, 2021 a number of our Internal Medicine Residents, including all five incoming Interns, volunteered at the Special Olympics of Hawaii's (SOHI) MedFest Event as part of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group's Professional Development Day. Our residents helped perform health screens for individuals who participate in Special Olympics activities. The event was held at SOHI's new headquarters in Kapolei.
Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop. - Dorothy Height
Five new internal medicine residents began their internship year at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii in June. Choosing a residency program during the COVID-19 pandemic came with additional challenges, as this was the first class for which all interviews were conducted virtually. Prior to receiving their white coats, the new interns volunteered at MedFest, doing intake and escorting Special Olympics athletes through their physicals.
Following an unprecedented year of practicing medicineamid a pandemic, the graduates of the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program safelygathered at Mapunapuna Medical Office on June 5 for theprogram’s annual banquet. The end of the academicyear was celebrated by sharing congratulatory speeches. In recognitionof the outstanding work of several faculty members and residents, Dr. Motooka announced the recipients of theKaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Awards.
During the graduation ceremony, residents were presentedwith expertly crafted kihei (a traditional Hawaiian garment)and lei hulu (prized feather lei), that symbolized theirdedication and commitment to residency training.
Congratulations to our IM residency graduates, and mahaloto all of our residency leadership, faculty, preceptors, andadministrative staff for their incredible guidance and supportduring the 2020-2021 program year!
Jennifer Katada, MD and Karen Chang, MD at the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Medical Honor Society banquet
The Hawaii Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Medical Honor Society recognized Jennifer Katada, MD (Associate Program Director, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency Program), as an Honorary Alumni Inductee on May 13 at a banquet at the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine.
The AΩA Honor Society honors top students from each graduating medical school class, and recognizes contributions in educational achievement, gifted teaching, the development of leaders, humanism, and service. Each year, the Hawaii chapter selects from house staff, faculty, and alumni to name honorary AΩA members.
Dr. Katada was selected by this year’s AΩA students as their Honorary Alumni Inductee. “I was honored to be chosen for this recognition,” said Dr. Katada. “It aligns with my personal and professional goals, such as lifelong learning in the pursuit of clinical excellence and teaching. I aspire to be a role model for medical students and help them achieve their goals.”
