{"id":227743,"date":"2025-12-30T15:09:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T01:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=227743"},"modified":"2025-12-30T15:09:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T01:09:26","slug":"earthquake-medical-sim-waipahu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/12\/30\/earthquake-medical-sim-waipahu\/","title":{"rendered":"Earthquake simulation with JABSOM<\/abbr> equips Waipahu students with real-world skills"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Waipahu Intermediate students being taught how to apply a tourniquet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An earthquake emergency unfolded inside Waipahu Intermediate School\u2019s library in December, as part of a hands-on simulation designed to prepare students for healthcare careers and national competition. The exercise was designed and led by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>) through its Huʻakaʻi<\/span> Program, giving more than 40 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA<\/abbr>) students the opportunity to practice real-world emergency response skills.<\/p>\n

Students assessed injuries, packed deep wounds, applied tourniquets and practiced communicating clearly with a 911<\/abbr> dispatcher as urgency and controlled chaos filled the room.<\/p>\n

The scenario was created by Huʻakaʻi<\/span> Program Director Jaimie Tom, an emergency medicine physician, with support from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa JABSOM<\/abbr> medical students.<\/p>\n

Being able to share that knowledge with students who are interested in helping others is really meaningful.
—Monica Ho<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“We wanted to support the teachers and the students as they prepare for the HOSA<\/abbr> competition by providing the students an opportunity to practice a few of the skills they will be tested on during the competition using a real-life emergency scenario,” Tom said. “These students already have a strong foundation so our goal was to enhance their knowledge base and provide tips they can use for both the competition and also as aspiring healthcare providers.”<\/p>\n

The Huʻakaʻi<\/span> Program reaches intermediate and high school students across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, offering hands-on workshops and mentorship to spark early interest in healthcare and help address the state\u2019s future workforce needs.<\/p>\n

HOSA<\/abbr> club president Althea Vinluan said the simulation gave students a realistic sense of healthcare work. “It shows you the reality of what healthcare professionals deal with,” Vinluan said. “You start asking yourself, ‘Is this something I see myself doing in the future?’”<\/p>\n

Monica Ho, a JABSOM<\/abbr> medical student said, “I\u2019m really grateful to be where I am and doing what I love. Being able to share that knowledge with students who are interested in helping others is really meaningful. I didn\u2019t have experiences like this when I was younger. I really wish I had. It might have steered me toward medicine sooner.”<\/p>\n

Read more at JABSOM<\/abbr><\/a>.<\/p>\n