Five new internal medicine interns officially joined the KP Hawaii family on June 12 with a welcoming white coat ceremony at HPMG’s Professional Development Day. With their entrance into the Internal Medicine Residency Program, all 15 slots across three residency classes are now filled for the first time.
“Everyone has been very welcoming and patient with me and our group, so I really appreciate that,” said Matthew Chan, MD, who attended Mid-Pacific Institute and received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. “I know diabetes is a big challenge here, and I can’t wait to learn about the different ways we help patients address the disease.”
Four of the five new residents have ties to Hawaii. They’ll continue to work out of Mapunapuna Medical Office, with regular didactic learning sessions and clinical training that focuses on ambulatory medicine. Program Director Mitch Motooka, MD, will oversee the residents along with various faculty mentors from internal medicine and related subspecialties.
“From day one we had a mentor – someone we can shadow and go to for help,” said Jonathan Cho, MD, a graduate of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
“After meeting the other residents and Dr. Motooka, I knew this would be the right place for me.” “When I was applying to residencies, I was looking for a program that was smaller in size with a close-knit experience,” said Matthew Yee, MD, a Kaiser High School graduate who earned his medical degree from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine. “I want to know my patients and establish a patient population of my own that I can follow through residency, and hopefully thereafter.”
Beginning their residency at HPMG’s Professional Development Day dedicated to health and wellness was an “amazing” experience for the newcomers. “The fact that this organization supports SELF CARE, that’s really great,” said Hisami Oba, MD, who went to Kalani High School and attended the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine. “There are so many different teams helping to make this organization work, so I feel that the physicians have great support behind them in whatever they want to do.”
“In Korea, we focus on taking care of the disease and not as much on taking care of the person,” said William Bae, MD, a graduate of the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. “I’m looking forward to getting good training on patient-centered care. It’s going to make me a more compassionate and caring physician.”
Incoming Chief Resident Loni Belyea, MD, who joins the program in July, was also on hand for the white coat ceremony. “I’m excited about my upcoming year as chief resident,” said Belyea. “I hope to serve as an advocate, teacher, and mentor to the internal medicine residents.”