NEW CENTER FOR NATIVE AND PACIFIC HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH
Date: December 28, 2007

Dr. Marjorie Mau A new “Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research” has been established at the University of Hawai′i at Manoa. Located in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, the center’s long-term mission goes beyond any single department or school.
The goal is the elimination of health disparities suffered by Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Peoples. Native Hawaiians, for example, are twice as likely to have diabetes as Caucasians in Hawai′i and 5.7 times more likely to die from diabetes or its complications.

*Click here to read Greg Wiles' report in the Honolulu Advertiser

...Full Story

POLICIES PROMOTING FITNESS ANALYZED
Date: December 26, 2007

Maui County and others were rated on land use policies promoting fitness The Department of Public Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine has evaluated policies that promote fitness in all four Hawaii counties. The study was funded by the Hawaii State Health Department of Health Tobacco Settlement Fund, and the findings published on line in the Centers for Disease Control's Preventing Chronic Disease. KHNL News8 Reported on the study. *Click here to see Beth Hillyer's report on KHNL News 8.

VOLUNTEERS BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO HOMELESS SHELTER
Date: December 26, 2007

Dr. Jill Omori leads medical students' homeless outreach It was hard to tell who enjoyed the Christmas spirit most December 22 at the Next Step homeless shelter in Kaka'ako.
Was it the dozens of children who lined up to decorate cookies, eat ice cream and receive donated gifts?
Was it the mothers and fathers who watched appreciatively as the faces of their kids shined with delight?
Or was it the young medical students and a few other volunteers who made it all possible?
*Click here to read all of Mike Leideman's report from The Honolulu Advertiser.

NUMBERS MISLEADING IN STUDY ON DOCTORS
Date: December 21, 2007

A medical student practices on a robot baby A study showing that Hawai'i has a relatively high physician-to-resident ratio is being questioned given anecdotal and other information about a shortage of doctors in the state.
*Click here to read Greg Wiles' report in the Honolulu Advertiser

PHYSICIAN INJURED IN HAWAII, TEACHES IN WASHINGTON
Date: December 20, 2007

Not too long ago, everything looked exceedingly bleak for Wade Justice, a vigorous, highly accomplished physician.
"I've been given a second chance at life," he says.
Nearly three years ago, Justice was driving on a windy road during a vacation in Hawaii. He was wearing a seat belt, and the car was outfitted with air bags.

*Click here to read the article in the Yakima Herald.

LIQUOR CAN BE DECEPTIVELY DEADLY
Date: December 19, 2007

Abby Collier, PhD Experts are saying getting drunk may be easier than most of us think.
KITV News spoke with a John A. Burns School of Medicine Professor Abby Collier Tuesday about how our bodies respond to alcohol.

*Click here to see Daryl Huff's report on KITV4 News.

...Full Story

U.H. WILLED BODY PROGRAM AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER SCHOOLS
Date: December 19, 2007

HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN PHOTO, 2006 In recent decades, an increasing number of colleges have been holding cadaver memorials, both to teach students about humanity and professionalism, and to encourage the public to donate their bodies to education. Steven Labrash, director of the Willed Body Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, leads an annual memorial that includes a scattering of the ashes at sea off of Magic Island.


*Click here to read the article in the San Diego Union-Tribune

TABRAH: LESSONS FROM THE ALOHA STATE
Date: December 18, 2007

The book's cover, as seen on Amazon.com Dr. Frank Tabrah's book, "Healthcare Hawaii Style: A Model for the Nation", is featured in December's Reporter, a publication of the American Association of Medical Colleges. Dr. Tabrah, emeritus professor of family medicine and community health, served as a plantation doctor and later became an academic physician. He recounts a half-century of personal experience in Hawaii, and argues that the rest of the country could benefit from the Aloha State's example.

*Click here for a web review of Dr. Tabrah's book.

EDUCATOR WAS ONE OF MEDICAL SCHOOL'S FIRST PROFESSORS
Date: December 17, 2007

Vincent De Feo, who joined the University of Hawaii in 1966 and was a founding faculty member of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, died Dec. 10 after a long illness. He was 82.
*Click here to read the article by Helen Altonn in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

ARE DIET DRINKS PART OF THE PROBLEM?
Date: December 17, 2007

The pros and cons of artificially sweet drinks are debated According to nutrition specialists Kurt Butler and Dr. Lynn Rayner of the University of Hawaii in "the Best Medicine", it has thus far not been demonstrated that low-sugar and no-sugar products result in weight loss. In fact, these two experts argue that, while diet drinks have little or no calories, they do contain artificial sweeteners like saccharin or aspartame that may actually stimulate appetite to eat extra carbohydrates, thereby increasing weight gain. And that's only part of the problem.

*Click here to read the article from The Nassau Gardian

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SCIENCE
Date: December 13, 2007

Bruce Wilcox of IGERT, Photo by Ron Paik This month's issue of Science includes an article on interdisciplinary research. The discussion features Bruce Wilcox, head of the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.


*Click here to read the article in Science

LOKAHI CRAFT FAIR EARNS $562
Date: December 13, 2007

Lokahi craft vendors brought Christmas cheer to Kulia Grill, Photo by Julie Woo Volunteer vendors and generous customers helped make this year's John A. Burns School of Medicine Lokahi Christmas Craft Fair a success. The effort raised more than $550 cash, which will be donated to the KHON2 Lokahi Project. That 16 year-old program brings Christmas gifts and needed items to families in Hawaii struggling with their finances or recovering from tragedy.
Mahalo to this year's vendors and the Kulia Grill, who brought a festive mood to the campus. And thanks to Lori Matsuzaki for organizing the 2007 event. Mele Kalikimaka!

JABSOM GRAD BUSY IN HOLLYWOOD
Date: December 11, 2007

Dr. Armand Dorian, JABSOM grad, makes house calls to Hollywood sets Armand Dorian is a busy physician in real life and on television. The 1973 University of Hawaii medical graduate is the medical technical advisor for NBC’s Emmy Award-winning drama series “ER.” Currently, he serves as the medical advisor for ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and TLC’s “Diagnosis X.” He was also featured in eight episodes of TLC’s “Untold Stories of the ER."

*Click here to read more about Dorian from La Canada Outlook

LAWMAKER SUGGESTS FREE TUITION FOR COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBOR ISLAND CARE
Date: December 06, 2007

Dr. Green proposes tuition waiver, other incentives to attract Neighbor Island doctors State Rep. Josh Green, D-Keauhou, Honokohau, proposed a three-point plan for expanding health care access, as well as bringing more doctors, nurses and dentists to Hawaii.
The chairman of the House Committee on Health wants to establish a Kamaaina Scholars program and to increase funding for medical and nursing schools, as well as residency programs statewide.
Click here to read the full article by Carolyn Lucas in West Hawaii Today

SENIOR PATIENTS WANT COST INFORMATION WHEN DOCTORS PRESCRIBE
Date: December 06, 2007

Dr. Tseng's study suggests a need for better doctor-patient communication According to a new study, led by a Hawai′i physician-researcher, 80 percent want their doctors to ask them whether they can afford their medications and to consider the cost of medicines when they prescribe drugs. However, less than 1 in 5 seniors say their doctors have asked about medication affordability or discussed costs.
*Click here to read Helen Alton's report in The Honolulu Star-Bulletin
*Click here for Greg Wiles' report in The Honolulu Advertiser
*Click here for HAWAII REPORTER's coverage.

ABC NEWS FEATURES DIABETES RESEARCH AT JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Date: December 06, 2007

ABC News' popular health website, abcnews.com, lists The University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine as one of the country's leading research institutions in diabetes. The website includes a link to a video by Dr. Kalani Brady, Associate Chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health. Dr. Brady addresses the disparities in health suffered by minority populations including Native Hawaiians. Dr. Brady has also agreed to answer questions about diabetes posed by web readers from around the nation during this month-long spotlight on diabetes. The medical school is grateful for the assistance of KHON2 News in making Dr. Brady's video link possible. Click here to see Dr. Brady and hear the John A. Burns School of Medicine's presentation.

HAWAII POPULATION VULNERABLE TO DIABETES
Date: December 06, 2007

Dr. Brady discusses diabetes on KHNL News8 A warning from doctors: they say much of the state's population is vulnerable to diabetes, more so than people realize. The warning comes in light of National Diabetes Awareness Month.
Doctors at University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine say symptoms don't show early on, which means you could have diabetes but may not know it.

Click here to see U.H.'s Dr. Kalani Brady in Mari-Ela David's report on KHNL8 NEWS8 .

CLINIC IS BACK ON TRACK
Date: December 04, 2007

The University of Hawaii AIDS Clinical Research Program, on the brink of closing a year ago, has $5.8 million in federal grants and a thriving operation.

The Legislature kept the program alive in the John A. Burns School of Medicine after it learned just before World AIDS Day last year that it would not receive a new grant from the National Institutes of Health because requirements had changed.

Click here to read Helen Altonn's story in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin