Scholarly Activities

There are a wealth of research opportunities within Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, which boasts an environment with broad clinical collaboration and a culturally diverse patient population. Residents are able to develop research initiatives with partners in the region, while also taking advantage of Kaiser Permanente’s extensive national network of experts and resources.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has an affiliation with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, which conducts ground-breaking research in many areas, including chronic disease prevention and epidemiology (diabetes and heart disease), as well as women’s and adolescent health, including nutritional and genetic factors.

Residents will have access to the Kaiser Permanente clinical library, which is one of the largest, most complete and most inclusive electronic medical information libraries in the world, with more than 1,500 electronic journals (including The Permanente Journal) and nearly 250 medical textbooks.

All residents will be assigned a mentor for their research endeavors, including initiatives to improve processes related to patient care, and will meet regularly to review progress. There will be opportunities for residents to research and present material as part of regular Grand Rounds presentations and the biennial HPMG Research and Innovation Symposium (for which they will be required to submit a poster).

Recent Resident Publications as of December 2025

  • Reinhardt J, Taualii, M “Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Extreme Preterm Birth in Hawaiʻi”, Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2025;84(12):283-292. https://doi.org/10.62547/VTQZ2327
  • Kircher K, Santi B, Borrello K, Wong JM, and Verhoef PA “Potts Puffy Tumor: A Rare Disorder of Childhood Presenting with Seizure in an Elderly Male”, Ann Intern Med Clin Cases, 2025 doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2025.012
  • Santi B and Verhoef PA “COVID-19 Hospitalization in Hawai’i and Patterns of Insurance Coverage, Race and Ethnicity, and Vaccination,” JAMA Netw Open 2024 May 1; 7(5): e243696. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3696. PMID: 38691362
  • Bae W, Canonico M, Shimabukuro K, Song L, Verhoef P, Yee M, “Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with leptomeningeal involvement presenting as an acute encephalopathy; a case report,” The Permanente Journal. 2022 June;TPJ-21-081.R2
  • Pyo JY, Yoo B, Kwon M, Bae WH, Byun SJ, Lee SW, Park YB, Song JJ. D-dimer predicts poor hospitalisation outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2021 Mar-Apr;39 Suppl 129(2):94-100. Epub 2021 Feb 25. PMID: 33635209.
  • Neighbors CP, Noller MW, Avillion MP, Neighbors JW, Spaw MC, Biello AR, Theler JM, Camacho M. Implementing a Protocol to Reduce Opioid Prescriptions in Military Otolaryngology: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Mil Med. 2021 Jan 4:usaa484. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaa484.

Presentations by the Residents at National Meetings

  • Kircher K, Kaya J and Kileci J “Pleuropareynchymal Fibrosis as a Rare Sequelae of Graft-versus-Host Disease: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Successful Complication Management” poster presentation at CHEST Conference 2025
  • Kircher K, Yang K and Shimabukuro K “A Rare Case of Immature Mediastinal Teratoma Transformation into Somatic Malignancy: Insights for Tailored Therapeutic Strategies in Patients Refractory to Chemotherapy” poster presentation at CHEST Conference 2025
  • Kircher K and Kileci J “A Diagnostic Puzzle In a 49-Year-Old Male Presenting with Dysphagia and Dysphonia” poster presentation at CHEST Conference 2024
  • Holmgren H and Yamashita S “A 14-year-old from Hawaii with Fever and Multiorgan Involvement” poster presentation at ID Week Conference 2022
  • Song L, Chun B, and Prentiss G “Waiting For The Other Foot To Drop”, Virtual podium presentation at AMSSM (American Medical Society for Sports Medicine) Conference 2021

ACP Hawaii Presentations

    • 2025
        • Bean K, Laimana J and Yamashita S “A Case of Oral Anaerobic Shoulder Septic Arthritis with Humeral Osteomyelitis” poster presentation
        • Diaz B, Helman D and Verhoef P “Unexplained Hemoptysis to Renal Clarity: A Diagnostic Journey to Lymphangioleiomyomatosis” poster presentation
        • Kircher K and Verhoef P “Potts Puffy Tumor: A Rare Disorder of Childhood Presenting with Seizure and Fever in an Elderly Male” poster presentation
        • Paulson T and Verhoef P “Procedural timing of thoracenteses/tube thoracostomies of positive pleural fluid cultures” poster presentation
        • Reinhardt J, Chock M, Lo S and Kurahashi C “Complex Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Malignant Thymoma: A Diagnostic challenge” poster presentation
    • 2024
        • Kircher K and Myers J “Chronicles of Insomnia: A Case of Non-24 Hour Circadian Sleep Rhythm Disorder in a Patient with Unilateral Blindness” poster presentation
        • Mathews B and Lin Y “Keeping up with the Jones? A Case of Adult, Acute Rhematic Fever with Carditis” poster presentation
        • Suzuki R, Chen T and Beale K “A Case of Severe Mineralcorticoid Excess in Abiraterone Use for Metastatic Prostate Cancer” poster presentation
        • Vuong C and Tello R “A Rare Case of Osteomyelitis Pubis with Abscess Formation” poster presentation
    • 2023
        • Chang K, Nishimoto S and Verhoef P “TB: A Brain Cancer Look-Alike”, poster presentation
        • Choo Loy K, Pandula A “Disseminated Gonococcal Infection: A Rare Complication of Untreated Gonorrhea Presenting in a 45 yo Female” poster presentation
        • Chun E, Verhoef P “A Case of the “-Itis”: Multi-System Organ Dysfunction Due to Nivolumab Therapy” poster presentation
        • Crump N and Pandula A “A Case of Distant Prostate Cancer Presenting as a Solitary Breast Mass” poster presentation
        • Crump N and Pandula A “A Rare Case, Presentation, and Outcome: a Case of Machiafava-Bignami Disease Presenting as Serotonin Syndrome with a Positive Outcome” poster presentation
        • Holmgren H and Lee P “A Heart Stopping Case; Young Woman with Cardiac Tamponade, Right Atrial Mass, and Miliary Lung Nodules” poster presentation
        • Holmgren H, Choo Loy K, Doi E, , Pandula A and Seto R “Long Covid – A cross-sectional study exploring the prevalence of post SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms and functional limitations in the outpatient setting” podium presentation
        • Jensen J and Yamashita S “”Oh Rats!”: A Case of an Emerging Pathogen Associated with a Rodent Bite” poster presentation
        • Laimana J and Kileci J “Hemoptysis or Not?: Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Secondary to Aspiration from Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome” poster presentation
        • Mathews B, Honda S and Kaya K “False Positive? Two Cases of Persistently Elevated Troponin I Without Clinical Evidence of Cardiac Involvement” poster presentation
    • 2022
        • Mathews B and Yamashita S “Bartonella Henselae Infection: An Unusual Cause of Failure to Thrive, Coombs-Negative Hemolytic Anemia, and Pancytopenia” poster presentation
    • 2020
        • Ashley P and Tran S “Severe Hepatosteatosis due to Strongyloides Stercoalis Hyperinfection” poster presentation
        • Ashley P and Collis T “Prior Hepatitis B Exposure – An Independent Risk Factor for the Development Of Liver Cancer in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection” podium presentation
        • Bae W and Yates J “False Negative Rapid Diagnostic Test in a Returning Traveler w/ Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria” poster presentation
        • Chan M and Hinz R “Mysterious Midcavity Mayhem: A Case of Acquired LVOT Obstruction” poster presentation
        • Cho J, Lee B and Leung C “Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in Hawaii” poster presentation
        • Fang Y and Yamagata Z “A Case of Afebrile Weil’s Disease: Protean Manifestations Without the Hallmark of Infection” poster presentation
        • Kim D and Seto R “Successful Aging: The Study of Frailty in Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Kai Clinic Seniors using the FRAIL Scale” poster presentation
        • Kinimaka A and Verhoef P “Richter Transformation: Judging Between Disease Progression and Transformation” poster presentation
        • Morisako A and Verhoef P “A Case of GI Bleed Associated w/ Severe Aortic Stenosis: Beware of What Might Be Heyde’ing in the Coagulation System”
        • Moyer L, Choy A, Verhoef P and Busekrus A “Moments that matter – Diabetes Management and Provider Practice Patterns Following Hospital Discharge” poster presentation
        • Moyer L, Liang S, Verhoef P and Busekrus A “Diabetes Management Resource Utilization in Native Hawaiian and Non-Hawaiian Patients with HbA1c >8” poster presentation
        • Neighbors K and Kaya J “Postpartum Minocycline Induced Eosinophilic Pneumonia w/ Thyroiditis” poster presentation
        • Oba H and Briggs K “Neurobrucellosis: In the Era of Modern Medicine, History Remains Pivotal” poster presentation
        • Song L and Verhoef P “The Pig Strikes Back: Brucellosis Orchitis in a Wild Pig Knife Hunter” poster presentation
        • Wong K, Kumari R and Lew H “Warfarin-Associated Non-Uremic Calciphylaxis –Diagnostic Challenges and Treatment With Sodium Thiosulfate: A Case Report” poster presentation
    • 2019
        • Ashley P, Ashley D and Helman D “Endobronchial Ultrasound In The Diagnosis of a Rare Pulmonary Embolism Mimic” poster presentation
        • Chan M, Honda S and Khan S “A Case of Myoepithelial Adenoma with Diffuse Metastasis: An Unusual Presentation of a Rae Malignancy” poster presentation
        • Chen L and Collis T “Stalking a Killer: Assessing Targets for Predictive Modeling of Liver Cancer Among Patients with Hepatitis C Infection in Hawaii” poster presentation
        • Chong V, Choy A and Stefanelli C “Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SOVA) – An Extremely Rare Cardiac Anomaly” poster presentation
        • Doi M and Honda S “Case of Liver Failure due to Amyloidosis–Case Report” poster presentation
        • Kim D and Belyea L “The Versatility and Stealth of Klebsiella Pneumoniae” poster presentation
        • Lew H, Yee M, Dang N, Tello R, Tran S, Chan M “Atrioesophaegal Fistula: A Rare and Dangerous Complication of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation” poster presentation
        • Moreno D, Delneo M and Hinz R “A Case of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria” poster presentation

KPHI Residency Research Day (est. 2025)

    • 2025
        • Balatsky K and Verhoef P “What Do You Mean I Can’t See? Acute Occipital Lobe Infarction Resulting In Cortical Blindness And Visual Anosognosia With Associated Confabulation, An Anton Syndrome Case Report” presentation
        • Bean K, Laimana J and Yamashita S “A Case of Oral Anaerobic Shoulder Septic Arthritis with Humeral Osteomyelitis” presentation
        • Kircher K and Shimabukuro K “Rare Case of Immature Mediastinal Teratoma Transforming into Somatic Malignancy: Genetic Insights for Tailored Therapeutic Strategies in Patients Refractory to Chemotherapy” presentation
        • Paulson T and Verhoef P “Procedural Timing of Thoracenteses/Tube Thoracostomies of Positive Pleural Fluid Cultures” presentation
        • Reinhardt J and Taualii M “Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Extreme Preterm Birth in Hawaii” presentation