The shortage of geriatricians nationwide is staggering¡ªdemand is estimated at 30,000 with fewer than 7,000 practitioners. This leaves a crucial gap in healthcare services as the elderly population expands. In Â鶹´«Ã½, the demand for geriatricians far outpaces the supply: Â鶹´«Ã½ holds the title of highest life expectancy in the nation at 80.7 years, along with the highest percentage of residents aged 85 and older, according to recent U.S. Census data.
Philanthropists Anne Nohara-Abaya and her husband Allen Abaya were compelled to provide a solution and established two pilot programs to support and encourage students to pursue geriatric care as a specialty at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM). The couple started the Nohara-Abaya Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award and the Nohara-Abaya Curriculum Support Fund.
“It was eye-opening,” said Anne, who learned more about the shortage after attending the . “Hawai?i has so many seniors¡ªhow much better would things be if we had more geriatricians?”
Professor and Chair of JABSOM¡¯s Department of Geriatric Medicine Kamal Masaki recognizes the paradox: “It¡¯s very sad because I think older patients could really benefit from this expertise.”
Supporting young doctors in geriatric care
The Nohara-Abaya Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award recipients receive $50,000 toward student loan relief and/or financial support—providing an opportunity for young doctors facing financial barriers to pursue their passion for geriatric care in favor of choosing a more lucrative specialty in order to quickly pay off student debt.
The UH Geriatric Medicine Fellowship is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, and it boasts a remarkable record of nearly half of its graduates choosing to practice in Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific region.
Born and raised in Â鶹´«Ã½, Kathryn Kianalani Choo Loy, JABSOM geriatric medicine fellow, cannot imagine practicing anywhere else and is grateful to be one of first recipients of this award.
“My hope is that I can be a support system for my patients who are going through so many transitions at their age, and need someone with patience and compassion to help them remain not just healthy—but happy as well,” said Choo Loy. “I am also passionate about making sure caregivers are taken care of too and will think of their health and wellbeing as part of my responsibility as well.”
Growing expert nurse practitioners
The goal of the second pilot program established by the Abayas is to inspire and encourage more Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, or APRNs, to become experts in caring for the elderly. The Nohara-Abaya Curriculum Support Fund will be used to create a unique program for nurse practitioners that exposes them to the geriatrics specialty through interprofessional education and collaboration with JABSOM medical students.
Administered by the JABSOM Department of Geriatric Medicine, the program will be available to nurse practitioner students enrolled across three institutions including UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, Chaminade University and Â鶹´«Ã½ Pacific University.
With these two pilot programs underway, Masaki is excited for the future of geriatric care in Â鶹´«Ã½.
“They¡¯re a wonderful couple, they want to help the community, they see the needs that are there and they figured out a way that they can give back and I¡¯m so thrilled,” said Masaki of the donors¡¯ generosity. “The more people that go into the field of geriatrics, I think it¡¯ll be better for our community.”