Pictured: The Awards Ceremony stage is full of future physicians who won the 2019 American College of Physicians Bernard Yim MD Award. Tina Shelton image.
By Tina Shelton, JABSOM Communications Director
Note: Individual photos by Deborah Manog Dimaya are coming soon!
Cash awards that will help our newest University of Hawaiʻi MD graduates in their immediate futures have been handed out, thanks to the generosity of organizations and private donors who support academic excellence — and the MD students who earned the prizes through their persistence and dedication. For the first time and to begin a new tradition, the awards were given in a gathering at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) campus, a few days before convocation. The future physicians, their families and the presenters were invited for a light dinner and conversation and then during the awards ceremony in the Medical Education Building Lobby together, they could cheer each other’s deserved recognition.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine was presented to Florence Kan, by JABSOM Alumna and Kaiser Permanente Internist Dr. Lisa Camara.
The ACP Bernard Yim, MD Award went to Justin Shortell, and also was presented by Dr. Camara on behalf of the ACP.
The E.E. Black Community Service Awards were presented to William G.H.H. Lee, Florence Kan, Jamie Takayesu, Krystina Begonia, Sean Awakuni, Aaron Suzuka, Jonathan Woo, Erika Noel, Eric Gresham, Gene Yoshikawa and Ashley Morisako, by JABSOM Alumnus and Office of Affairs Director Dr. Lawrence Burgess.
JABSOM Chair of Medicine Dr. Elizabeth Tam presented The Maurice Brodsky Memorial Award to Amy Li.
The Walter F. Char, MD Prize in Psychiatry went to Sean Awakuni, and was presented by JABSOM Alumnus Dr. William Haning, III.
The Dr. Albert C.K. Chun-Hoon Award for Community Service went to William G.H.H. Lee, and was presented by Dr. Burgess.
The Windsor and Mary Cutting Excellence in The Basic Medical Sciences Award went to Thomas Kane, IV, and Dr. Burgess again had the honor of presenting.
Jonathan Woo received the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Award, also presented by the busiest alumnus of the evening, Dr. Burgess.
The Hawaiʻi Academy of Family Physicians Outstanding Student Award was presented to both Eric Gresham and Aaron Suzuka, by JABSOM Alumnus Dr. Damon Lee.
Two students won the Hawaiʻi Lions Foundation Ophthalmology Award, both Bao Han Le and Carlthan Ling received the honors from Dr. Burgess.
The Drs. Diane L. Ching and Andrew K. Feng Pediatric Award (H.E.R.O. Award) went to Erika Noel. Drs. Andrew Feng and Dr. Diane L. Ching presented the award to Erika.
The Hawaiʻi Medical Association Alliance (HMAA) Endowment Award went to three MD 2019 class members: Florence Kan, Jamie Takayesu and Krystina Begonia. JABSOM Alumnus Dr. Wendell Foo and Mrs. Sue Ling Foo were on hand to present that award.
The Dr. Laura Weldon Hoque Award was presented by Dr. Ned J. Weldon, Jr. to Kiyonari Noguchi.
The Glenn M. Kokame, MD Memorial Award for Surgery went to Justin Shortell, presented by Dr. Burgess.
The Dr. Frank and Mary McDowell Award, also presented by Dr. Burgess, went to William Lee.
The Philip I. McNamee, MD Award, went to Megan Sumida. JABSOM OB-GYN Chair Dr. Ivica Zalud presented the award.
The Merck Award for Academic Excellence went to both Eric Gresham and William Lee, with Dr. Burgess presenting.
The John M. Ohtani, MD Award, presented by Dr. Zalud, went to Kelli Kaneta.
The Office of Medical Education Kākoʻo (Supporting Ideas) Award went to Erika Noel and was presented by JABSOM Alumna Dr. Vanessa Wong.
The Physicians’ Anesthesia Endowed Award went to Daniel Estess, with Dr. Burgess presenting the prize.
The Poʻokela Noʻeau (Best Student) Award was presented to Eric Gresham by Friends of the Medical School President and JABSOM Alumnus Dr. Jason Fleming.
Another Friends of the Medical School Award, for Research, the Poʻokela Noiʻi was presented to William Lee, by Dr. Fleming.
And a third by the Friends group, the Aequanimitas Noʻonoʻo Pono (Doing what is right) Award was presented by Dr. Fleming to Florence Kan.
The Reddy Award in Pediatrics went to Kelli Kaneta, and was presented by its founder, Dr. Venu Reddy, faculty member in Pediatrics at JABSOM.
The Dr. Volt H. Tom Excellence in Geriatric Medicine Award went to Kellie Kurasaki, Laura Kurata, Keolamau Yee, Eric Gresham, Celina Hayashi, Arcelita Imasa and Ami Li all presented by JABSOM Geriatrics Chair Dr. Kamal Masaki.
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award is presented to both an MD Student and Faculty Member. Those honored for 2019 by the The Arnold P. Gold Foundation are Student Eric Gresham
and JABSOM Alumnus and family medicine physician Dr. Randall Suzuka, and JABSOM Alumnus Dr. Damon Lee, a family medicine physician and clinical skills assistant professor.
The Terry C.Y. Wong, MD Memorial Award went to Florence Kan, and was presented by Ms. Kathleen Wong.
The Yazawa Family Endowed Award went to William G.H.H. Lee, with Dr. Burgess presenting the envelope.
The Kaiser-Permanente Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to Associate Professor Dr. Yusuke Marikawa for his Pre Clinical teaching and to Dr. Christine Izutsu for her Clinical Instruction, and presented by Dr. Burgess.
The John M. Hardman, MD Award for Mentoring in Teaching was presented to JABSOM Alumnus Dr. Richard Kasuya, Professor of Medicine, by Dr. Burgess.
And the Aloha Award, to the student voted by her fellow students as most representing JABSOM and the Aloha spirit, and our vision of Attaining Lasting Optimal Health for All, 2019 Class President Florence Kan.