Grant to help Hawaiians study medicine

The University of Hawaii at Hilo has received a grant to increase the number of Native Hawaiians in health care professions.

The UHH Na Pua No‘eau received a $502,692 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its Ke Ola Mau project. The award is for three years.

Na Pua No‘eau has designed a Health Careers Pathway for Native Hawaiians in kindergarten through University of Hawaii System health professional schools. This partnership, along with UH Student Support Services and community health care associations, will provide a continuum of program activities for Native Hawaiian students throughout the state.

Program events will include:

l Mentoring, research and summer programs for K-12 students;

l Support through learning communities, tutorials, advising and cultural field trips in the first two years of college;

l Stipends for research, internships, and community service for college students majoring in a health care profession.

For more information, contact David K. Sing, executive director of Na Pua No‘eau, at 974-7678.

According to and project director, “We are joining the efforts of others such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Native Hawaiian Health Associations, the University of Hawaii School of Medicine and UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy to address the health issues of Native Hawaiians and to assure that the future of Native Hawaiian health will be orchestrated by a professional group represented by Native Hawaiian health care professionals.”