Hilo Medical Center is embarking on year six of its Family Medicine Residency, the only residency training program outside of Oahu.
On March 15, the National Resident Matching Program matched Bret Clawson, MD, from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Daniel Iqbal, DO, from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kalinda Matthews-Harris, MD, from Meharry Medical College; and Jaime Parra, MD, from University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio with HMC’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
The four physicians are scheduled to arrive in Hilo and begin their training this summer.
“We welcome the latest class of residents into our ‘ohana,” said Dan Brinkman, East Hawaii Regional CEO, Hawaii Health Systems Corp.
“We look forward to providing these highly qualified physicians with an excellent training experience.”
“I’m really excited about the new class of residents,” said Dr. Jennifer J. Walker, interim director of the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency and medical director of the Hawaii Island Family Health Center. “As our program continues to grow, our residents and faculty are providing high quality health care to more and more people of East Hawaii.”
According to Walker, the incoming residents have solid ties to Hawaii.
Clawson and his wife are looking forward to returning to Hawaii to be closer to her family on Oahu. Iqbal fell in love with Hawaii on his first visit and is committed to practicing medicine in a rural island setting. Matthews-Harris lived on Hawaii Island for many years and earned her undergraduate degree from University of Hawaii at Hilo. Parra first learned about Hawaii and its rich culture from good friends from Hawaii. He is looking forward to practicing the full scope of family medicine here when he graduates from residency.
For more information on the HIFMR Program, go to: www.hifmr.org.
Anyone interested in becoming a patient at the Hawaii Island Family Health Center, the home clinic of the residency training program, may call (808) 932-4215 for an appointment.
