Faculty
Surgery
Thomas E. Read, MD, FACS, FASCRS, has been selected as the new chair of the University of
Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Surgery Department. Dr. Read comes to JABSOM
from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he served as the Charles and Elise
Nail Professor of Colon and Rectal Surgery and Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal
Surgery.
Dr. Read is a nationally recognized leader in colorectal surgery, bringing a distinguished record
of clinical excellence, academic scholarship, and organizational leadership to JABSOM.
“Dr. Read’s appointment comes at a critical time for JABSOM and our state,” said Dean Sam
Shomaker, MD, JD. “His clinical practice is focused on complex abdominopelvic disease,
including rectal cancer. He is a renowned colorectal surgeon, filling a crucial need for this type
of care in Hawaiʻi. Academically, Dr. Read is passionate about teaching and mentoring junior doctors. His impressive clinical research is focused on the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. I am excited to see how he will lead our Surgery Department into the future.”
The Surgery clinical department is located at The Queen’s Medical Center, which is designated
as the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the state. Dr. Read will become Chief of Surgery of the
Queen’s University Medical Group (QUMG).
“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Dr. Read to our Queen’s ‘ohana,” said Rick Bruno,
MD, President of QUMG. “We look forward to his leadership and collaboration, as we continue
to build the Queen’s surgical program, work with our outstanding group of physicians, and train
the next generation of surgeons while delivering excellent health care to the people of Hawai‘i.”
Dr. Read enters this role with an extensive background in research, having published more than
120 original manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and given over 350 invited presentations
nationally and internationally. He has served as Coursemaster for medical student surgical
education, Program Director for two colorectal residencies, and as the ACGME Designated
Institutional Official (DIO).
“It’s a tremendous honor to lead the Surgery Department at JABSOM,” Read said. “I look
forward to not only building on the cherished legacy of this department but also contributing to
the health of the richly diverse population of Hawaiʻi.”
Dr. Read has served in various leadership roles for organizations representing his specialty,
including as President of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and as President
and Chair of the Examination Committee of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery
(ABCRS). He served as Chair of the Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery to the
American College of Surgeons (ACS) and as a Governor of the ACS, representing the specialty
of colon and rectal surgery to the College. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the
ABCRS and is on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Dr. Read will begin his position on October 27, 2025, succeeding Kenric Murayama, MD, who
retired from JABSOM in 2023 after 13.5 years of service. Dean Mikami, MD, has been serving
diligently in the interim role since Dr. Murayama’s departure.
Established in 1965, the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) is one of the degree-granting schools of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Named in honor of the visionary former governor, JABSOM trains the next generation of outstanding physicians, scientists, medical technologists, and speech pathologists to improve the health and wellness of our many communities throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Our impactful research focuses on understanding and addressing health needs that are high priority for the populations we serve. JABSOM is home to the first clinical department in an accredited medical school in the nation that is focused on health issues of an indigenous population, Native Hawaiians.
The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1985 to provide expanded health care capabilities to the people of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Basin. It is Hawai‘i’s preeminent family of health care-related companies, and has more than 9,500 employees and more than 1,800 affiliated physicians and providers in its statewide network. QHS consists of The Queen’s Medical Center (Hawai‘i’s oldest hospital founded in 1859), The Queen’s Medical Center – West O‘ahu, The Queen’s Medical Center – Wahiawā, The Queen’s Medical Center – Kahi Mohala, Molokai General Hospital, Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, The Queen’s Health Care Centers, Queen’s Island Urgent Care, Queen Emma Land Company, Queen’s Development Corporation, Queen’s Insurance Exchange, Queen’s Clinically Integrated Physician Network, and Queen’s ‘Akoakoa, and has ownership interests in CareResource Hawaii, Hamamatsu/Queen’s PET Imaging Center, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, and EmPower Health.