JABSOM welcomed its newest class of future physicians during a moving White Coat Ceremony, where students were cloaked with their white coats for the first time. The annual ceremony is a rite of passage signifying their formal entry into medical school and the beginning of their journeys to become doctors.
For Micah Heimuli, Chanel Hunter, and Kaeo Kekumano, it was a moment years in the making.
“It’s really humbling,” said Heimuli, who was cloaked by Drs. Christian Kitamura and Jennifer Ping. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, and to be able to take on that mantle means a lot.”
Heimuli acknowledged the responsibility that comes with becoming a physician, especially in Hawai‘i, where the state continues to face a severe physician shortage.
“It aligns with my values,” he said. “I want to help people who are not just sick, but also may not have access to care. That’s something I’ve been learning more about, and I know JABSOM will help prepare me for that.”
The White Coat ceremony was an emotional night for Chanel Hunter who chose Drs. Travis Hong and Vanessa Wong to cloak her.
“I feel very proud of myself, but also very grateful for my family and support system who helped me get here,” she said. “It’s an honor to represent my community, especially being the first doctor in my family. I want to give back to the place I was born and raised in.”
14 Native Hawaiian students make up 18 percent of the class of 2029, which mirrors the Native Hawaiian population in Hawaiʻi.
That milestone holds special significance for Kekumano.
“I think it’s so important to have Native Hawaiians serving the community because we have Native Hawaiians in the community,” he said. “It builds trust when people see doctors who look like them and understand their culture.”
Prior to entering medical school, Kekumano collaborated on research with MS3 Keliʻi Shontell and the Taparra Lab, with mentors on health equity projects focused on Native Hawaiians and melanoma.
“It was an amazing experience,” he said. “It really solidified my desire to go into medicine and give back.”
Kekumano was cloaked by his moku mentors, Drs. Joshua Jacobs and Kit Shan Lee. As he looks ahead, he and many of his classmates say they hope to remain in Hawaiʻi after medical school to address healthcare disparities and contribute to the state’s health workforce.
“If anything, that’s the most certain thing in my future,” he said.
The night was capped off with the Honorable Judge James S. Burns Award, presented by the JABSOM Friends of the Medical School. This year’s award was given to Dr. Thomas Kosasa, for his service to Hawaiʻi which spans more than five decades. Throughout his illustrious career, Kosasa delivered more than 10,000 babies. Professor emeritus and past Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology at JABSOM, Kosasa was honored for bringing hope to couples struggling with infertility, mentoring generations of medical students and residents, all while demonstrating how to be a rigorous researcher and compassionate clinician.
See all photos from the 2025 White Coat Ceremony on our JABSOM Flickr:
