{"id":209419,"date":"2025-01-17T10:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T20:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=209419"},"modified":"2025-01-17T10:35:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T20:35:42","slug":"pre-health-pre-law-advising-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/17\/pre-health-pre-law-advising-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Health, law advising center fosters bright futures for students"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Kaʻohi<\/span> Gomera and Michael Ajimura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For some students, navigating their way to a degree can be daunting. One place that has made the journey easier is the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa’s Pre-Health\/Pre-Law Advising Center<\/a> (PAC<\/abbr>). Offering free, walk-in guidance for students pursuing careers in health sciences and law, PAC<\/abbr> helps turn professional aspirations into reality.<\/p>\n

Two former advisees, now first-year students in their respective professional programs, credit PAC<\/abbr> with playing a pivotal role in their journeys.<\/p>\n

“Whether you\u2019re just exploring your options or ready to apply, we\u2019re here to guide you,” said PAC<\/abbr> Director Kiana Shiroma.<\/p>\n

Advocating for rural communities<\/h2>\n

Kaʻohi<\/span> Gomera, a first-year law student at the William S. Richardson School of Law<\/a>, grew up in North Kohala on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island. Inspired by her rural community’s healthcare challenges, she hopes to advocate for better healthcare policies in underserved areas.<\/p>\n

Gomera first learned about PAC<\/abbr>\u2019s services through UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s law school. Working closely with her advisor Tori Shiraki, a third-year law student, Gomera received step-by-step guidance on her law school applications.<\/p>\n

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Gomera (front row) with classmates at the UH<\/abbr> law school.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Tori helped me with everything\u2014my resume, personal statement and essays. She was honest and gave unbiased advice, which was so valuable,” Gomera shared. Regular meetings helped her refine her applications, even when faced with the challenge of being waitlisted.<\/p>\n

“The center created a safe space where I felt comfortable sharing personal experiences,” Gomera said. “They encouraged me and were always available to answer questions. Their support made a stressful process feel manageable.”<\/p>\n

Now thriving in her first year, Gomera values the sense of community at the UH<\/abbr> law school. “It\u2019s a privilege to pursue higher education, and PAC<\/abbr> made it more accessible for students like me, especially as a first generation college graduate, now first generation law student” she said.<\/p>\n

A journey to medicine<\/h2>\n

Michael Ajimura, a first-year medical student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>), initially dreamed of becoming an engineer. However, his experiences with first aid as a Boy Scout sparked a passion for biology. After earning a degree in molecular cell biology<\/a> from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, Ajimura turned to PAC<\/abbr> for guidance on medical school applications.<\/p>\n

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Ajimura (right) with classmates after completing his first semester at JABSOM<\/abbr>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I wish I had gone to PAC<\/abbr> sooner,” Ajimura admitted. “Even after graduation, I didn\u2019t realize how much I didn\u2019t know. Dr. Shiroma and my advisors, Jenny Nguyen and Juliana Tomitabroke broke everything down for me\u2014from primary applications to personal statements and extracurriculars.”<\/p>\n

Ajimura\u2019s journey involved applying to 20 medical schools, a daunting task made smoother with PAC<\/abbr>\u2019s help. “Their advice was comforting and practical. They were there every step of the way, no matter how many questions I had,” he said.<\/p>\n

After finishing his first semester at JABSOM<\/abbr>, Ajimura reflects on the challenges of medical school and the importance of support systems. “Dr. Shiroma was so happy when I got in, and her belief in me made all the difference,” he said.<\/p>\n

A resource for all stages<\/h2>\n

Both Gomera and Ajimura encourage students to take advantage of PAC<\/abbr>\u2019s resources. “Even if you\u2019re unsure about your path, PAC<\/abbr> can help you figure it out,” Ajimura said.<\/p>\n

Visit the PAC<\/abbr> website for more information<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAC<\/abbr> provides essential support for students pursuing careers in health sciences and law, guiding them through every step of the admissions process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[781,165,31,154,9,68],"class_list":["post-209419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-academic-advising","tag-health","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-law","tag-uh-manoa","tag-william-s-richardson-school-of-law","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\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