Six physicians make up the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency class of 2024 and will arrive on the Big Island in June.
The new class includes:
• Dr. Bruna Antonio, who joins the program from American University of Antigua College of Medicine. She has experience in medical missions in Africa, Nicaragua and Haiti and has previous experience as a surgical tech prior to attending medical school.
• Dr. Fujiko Matsui, who currently attends Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She brought her family to the Big Island in the middle of the COVID-19 surge to do a one month rotation in the program. She has a strong interest in working with rural and immigrant populations.
• Dr. Laureen Nilo, who joins the program from Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is originally from Waipahu, Oahu. Her interests include community outreach and women’s health.
• Dr. Kristen Richard, who graduated from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts. She is looking forward to serving underserved and rural populations, and has interest in diversity and advocacy.
• Dr. Brian Thielen, who will graduate in May from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He has a passion for rural Hawaii and has traveled extensively in this region. His passions include diversity, health literacy and lifestyle medicine.
• Dr. Benjamin Wing, who will graduate in April from the American University of the Caribbean. He completed his undergraduate education at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, is drawn to outreach and has an affinity for cultural diversity.
In Hawaii, all medical residency programs are located on Oahu, with the exception of Hilo Medical Center’s Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency program, which launched in 2014.