Alumni News
JABSOM alumni spent their Statehood Day weekend on Maui, participating in a dual CME and alumni reunion event at the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina.
"During the pandemic, we used to have these conferences on Zoom, and it's been in Las Vegas twice, too," said Dr. Gina Fujikami, a 2008 JABSOM graduate and secretary of JABSOM's Alumni Association. "This year, we wanted to do something a little bit closer to home to attract more neighbor island colleagues. Also, given the events on Maui from the fires last year, we wanted to support the Valley Isle in helping with the economy and showing our support."
The festivities began on Friday, August 16th, with a welcome reception.
"The reception was also sort of an annual reunion. Dr. Shomaker gave a speech, so many of us were introduced to him for the first time," Dr. Fujikami said. "After the Friday evening kickoff, half of the day on Saturday and Sunday were devoted to CME lectures."
Those lectures covered oncology, urogynecology, skin disorders, obesity, and mental health, providing a comprehensive reflection of the specialties JABSOM graduates pursue in their careers. The CME event did not forget to highlight the challenges Maui has faced in the year after the devastating wildfires.
"We had two local colleagues, who were on Maui and lived on Maui, talk about the impact of the wildfires, as well as the mental health struggles stemming from it," Dr. Fujikami said.
Many JABSOM graduates attended, and the evenings were devoted to socializing and connecting with classmates throughout the decades.
"We had alumni from the 1970s, who may have graduated in one of the first four-year classes in the med school attend, so that was special to connect with alumni across the decades," Dr. Fujikami said.
Dr. Fujikami, who practices Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine at The Queen's Health Systems, said, "As physicians, we get so wrapped up in our own little niche, so it's really nice to have these opportunities from the alumni association to reconnect with fellow alumni and the school all while getting our CME credits in a nice setting, too."
She credits the success of the Maui CME event to Dr. Ryon Nakasone, the Vice President of the Alumni Association; Christie Leidholm, the Associate Director of Donor and Alumni Relations; and Dr. Richard Kasuya, the President of the Alumni Association.
If you would like to be included in future alumni events, please contact Christie Leidholm at christie.leidholm@uhfoundation.org
View the full Maui CME gallery here: