{"id":235770,"date":"2026-06-08T15:16:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T01:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=235770"},"modified":"2026-06-08T15:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T01:18:14","slug":"paris-stowers-national-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/08\/paris-stowers-national-award\/","title":{"rendered":"National award honors OBGYN<\/abbr> faculty for student leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Paris Stowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>) faculty member Paris Stowers has been honored for her efforts in helping medical students find their voice in obstetrics and gynecology.<\/p>\n

Stowers, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and women\u2019s health<\/a>, received the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Medical Student Recruitment Award. She was recognized for developing a student leadership and mentorship model within the organization\u2019s District VIII<\/abbr>, which includes Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and several western states.<\/p>\n

The initiative was designed to engage medical students in the OBGYN<\/abbr> field early by giving them a real seat at the table.<\/p>\n

“There was an interest in developing a medical student advisory council so medical students could have a leadership role in the organization,” Stowers said.<\/p>\n

As the council\u2019s first faculty advisor, Stowers helped build a program that connected students across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and several western states through virtual meetings, mentorship, advocacy work and national conferences.<\/p>\n

Strengthening student advocacy, recruitment<\/h2>\n

“We ask them what kinds of things they want to work on,” Stowers said. “It\u2019s more successful if it\u2019s student-driven.”<\/p>\n

Students engaged in various health education and advocacy projects and attended national advocacy meetings in Washington, D.C.<\/abbr>, where they met with lawmakers alongside practicing OBGYN<\/abbr> physicians. The program emphasized professional development skills, such as networking at conferences and maximizing mentorship opportunities.<\/p>\n

The model has also helped strengthen recruitment in regions historically struggling to retain OBGYN<\/abbr> physicians, including rural states facing physician shortages. JABSOM<\/abbr> students Brandi Mikami and Paige Harakuni served on the council this year.<\/p>\n

“I cannot think of someone more deserving of this award than Dr. Stowers,” said Harakuni. “She has a remarkable ability to bring students into the conversation and make us feel like valued members of the organization.”<\/p>\n

Stowers hopes the experience shows future physicians they can help shape healthcare systems and policy. “You can make a change in your medical school, but also at the national level,” she said.<\/p>\n

Read more at JABSOM<\/abbr>.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JABSOM<\/abbr> faculty Paris Stowers wins national award for empowering medical students in OBGYN<\/abbr> advocacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":235776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[598,31,1286,9],"class_list":["post-235770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-faculty-recognition","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-obstetrics-and-gynecology","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