Dr. Melanie Arakaki was given an Award of Teaching Excellence at the Hawaiʻi Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting on February 20, 2016.
Dr. Arakaki is a proud graduate (Class of 1998) of the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), who completed her residency training at the University of Hawaiʻi Family Medicine Residency Program in June 2001.
The award, “in recognition and appreciation for outstanding contributions to the teaching of Hawai‘i’s future physicians in the field of Family Medicine,” was signed by Dean Jerris Hedges, MD, and Family Medicine Department Chair, Allen Hixon, MD.
This is the first award presented by the Department of Family Medicine. Going forward, the award will be presented annually to recognize our Family Medicine community preceptors who, collectively, give thousands of hours as non-compensated clinical faculty each year to teaching JABSOM third-year medical students.
Dr. Arakaki precepts many, many students each year. She has never declined a request to precept.
“Dr. Arakaki epitomizes the best of JABSOM and Family Medicine – a local girl from Hilo who was “home grown” at JABSOM and it’s residency program – who constantly gives back to her community and her school .. and who plays a critical role in training the next generation of physicians for Hawaiʻi. We hope that all of our JABSOM alumni are able to contribute to the health of their communities and also serve as instructors for our JABSOM students, residents and fellows,” said Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, Vice-Chair of the JABSOM Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Deputy Designated Institutional Official for JABSOM’s Graduate Medical Education Programs.
Comments from students who have spent their Third-year Family Medicine Clerkship with her during the last 18 months are exemplary:
“Great preceptor, great doctor and teacher.”
“Dr. Arakaki is an amazing physician and the trust/bond she has with each and every one of her patients is remarkable. She takes the time in every visit to “talk story” with the patients and get to know them personally. It is refreshing to see a physician invest so deeply in the doctor-patient relationship and I firmly believe it builds a great amount of trust with the patients [who feel] that they are being treated by not only their doctor but also a close family friend.”
“Dr. Arakaki is a wonderful preceptor. There is a lot of learning that goes on in her busy Hilo clinic. I appreciate that she makes an effort to educate beyond standard medical school training – specifically, the need for correct coding to obtain the best possible coverage by a patient’s insurance which I believe is a component of ensuring or increasing access to care.”
“Dr. Arakaki is wonderful. I’m impressed by how she is able to connect and find common ground with any patient, including the most difficult/stubborn ones.”
“Dr. Arakaki is incredible generous with her time and warmth; both with her patients and me as her student. She is patient and understanding.”
“The rapport between Dr. Arakaki and her patients is very strong — her rapport with her patients and the great amount of autonomy given to students seeing patients in the clinic.”
“Excellent practitioner. Dr. Arakaki demonstrates how to have ideal physical patient relationships.”
“Incredible relationships … [that the practitioner has] … developed with patients.”
“Dr. Arakaki is an excellent teacher and role model. She is the ultimate family medicine physician who cares wholeheartedly about her patients and makes a genuine effort to get to know them. She is patient with me yet also challenges me. Her bubbly personality and enthusiasm for family medicine is contagious.”
“Dr. Arakaki is professional, organized, very personable, and takes the time to talk story with her patients. She knows their stories, where they come from, and where they would like to be in terms of their health. She allows me the opportunity to study/observe, learn, and then practice. Her easy-going personality is her greatest strength, which is reflected in her patients’ glowing compliments about her. She is a delight to work with.”
Pictured L-R: Dr. Seiji Yamada, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Director of Medical Student Teaching, JABSOM Department of Family Medicine and Community Health; Jaclyn McLaughlin, JABSOM third-year medical student (Dr. Arakaki’s most recent student); Dr. Arakaki; Dr. Adriann Bruce (JABSOM, Class of 2015 and current PGY-1 at the UH Family Medicine Residency Program); Dr. Sheldon Riklon, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Third-Year Clerkship Director.
Mahalo to Heidi Kubo, Medical Student Education Coordinator, and Dr. Buenconsejo-Lum.
