Pediatrics
Tumaini Rucker Coker, MD, MBA has been selected as the new chair of the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Pediatrics Department. Dr. Rucker Coker comes to JABSOM from the University of Washington School of Medicine where she served as Professor and Division Head of General Pediatrics.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Coker to JABSOM,” said Dean Sam Shomaker, MD, JD. “Dr. Coker brings decades of experience as a pediatrician as well as an extensive background in community-based research in underserved areas. Those two attributes are exactly what JABSOM needs as we strive to train the next generation of pediatricians for Hawaiʻi.”
The Pediatrics clinical department is located at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children (KMCWC). KMCWC is the only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty hospital in the state and is a learning site for all pediatric education at JABSOM.
“As chair of the Pediatrics Department, Dr. Coker will oversee the more than 200 compensated and volunteer faculty, as well as curricular activities supporting medical students, residents and fellows,” said Dr. Leslie B. Chun, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Group CEO. “We look forward to her leadership as we partner with JABSOM in creating a healthier Hawaiʻi for our keiki.”
Prior to accepting the Pediatrics Chair position, Dr. Coker was the inaugural Research Director for Seattle Children’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity, and served as the Co-Director of the University of Washington’s NIH-funded Child Health Equity Research Fellowship. As a general pediatrician and health service researcher, Dr. Coker conducts community-partnered research to improve the delivery of primary care for children in low-income communities. She is a member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).
“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a deep commitment to partnering with communities to advance health equity,” said Dr. Coker, “I’m thrilled to join JABSOM to continue this work, and collaborate with the incredible JABSOM faculty, staff, trainees, and community partners to advance health and wellness for all of Hawaiʻi’s children and youth.”
Dr. Coker succeeds Dr. Ken Nakamura, who retired as Pediatrics chair after more than 14 years in the role.