{"id":205425,"date":"2024-10-22T15:38:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T01:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=205425"},"modified":"2024-10-22T15:38:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T01:38:48","slug":"kaholokula-elected-to-nam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/22\/kaholokula-elected-to-nam\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaholokula elected to the National Academy of Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Kaholokula
Community-based researchers congratulate Kaholokula<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a historic achievement, Joseph Keaweʻaimoku<\/span> Kaholokula, professor and chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health<\/a> at the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>) at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa, has been inducted into the National Academy of Medicine<\/a> (NAM<\/abbr>) for 2024. He is believed to be the first Native Hawaiian to be elected to the academy, and is among the 100 new members to join NAM<\/abbr> this year.<\/p>\n

Kaholokula is honored for his groundbreaking work in using Indigenous cultural values and practices to address health disparities, particularly in cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity care for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. His election reflects NAM<\/abbr>‘s recognition of individuals making significant contributions to medical science and public health.<\/p>\n

\"Kaholokula
Kaholokula with his family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I understand it to be one of the highest honors for a scientist in the U.S.<\/abbr> and a recognition of not just the quality of their research and the impact of their research, but the service on a national level when it comes to influencing policy and health care in our communities,” Kaholokula said. <\/p>\n

NAM<\/abbr> cited Kaholokula for “pioneering evidence-based interventions using Indigenous cultural values and practices to improve cardiovascular, diabetes, and obesity disparities for thousands of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NH\/PI<\/abbr>). He spans science and practice, provides direction to health care systems serving NH\/PI<\/abbr>, advocates for NH\/PI<\/abbr>, and develops NH\/PI<\/abbr> scientists.”<\/p>\n

Joining JABSOM<\/abbr>\u2019s Chien-Wen Tseng, Kaholokula\u2019s election to the NAM makes him the second active UH<\/abbr> member in this exclusive club. Suzanne P. Murphy, retired UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center researcher, was elected in 2010. JABSOM<\/abbr> Dean Emeritus Jerris Hedges was elected in 2000. <\/p>\n

“Dr. Kaholokula\u2019s election to the National Academy of Medicine is a groundbreaking moment for the John A. Burns School of Medicine, but also the Native Hawaiian community,” said JABSOM<\/abbr> Dean Sam Shomaker. “Through his community-engaged research, culturally grounded interventions, and community-based trials, he has earned community trust and ensured their global representation. Keawe has fought to uncover health disparities in Native Hawaiians and his work will profoundly impact disease prevention in this population for generations to come.” <\/p>\n

Kaholokula sees this achievement as an opportunity to continue the important, trailblazing work he\u2019s done over the last three decades.<\/p>\n

“I think the most important aspect of this election to the National Academy of Medicine is that it opens the door for other Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders to be able to serve and have a seat at the table in this way,” he said. “I know that’s a huge kuleana, so it\u2019s something I don’t take lightly.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joseph Keaweʻaimoku<\/span> Kaholokula is believed to be the first Native Hawaiian to be elected to the academy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[598,31,242,9],"class_list":["post-205425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-faculty-recognition","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-native-hawaiian-health","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t