Faculty
Dear JABSOM ʻOhana,
I’m writing to share that Dr. Scott Kuwada has informed me of his decision to resign as Chair of the Department of Medicine, effective March 1, 2027.
Dr. Kuwada assumed the role of Interim Chair in the summer of 2021 at the request of the late Dr. Elizabeth Tam and subsequently agreed to serve as permanent Chair in 2023 to ensure continuity during a critical period of growth for the department. Over nearly five years of leadership, he has guided the Department of Medicine through expansion, transition, and the launch of major new initiatives.
Under Dr. Kuwada’s leadership, the department has:
• Helped launch the UH Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency, UH Gastroenterology Fellowship, UH Neurology Residency and UH Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Programs.
• Advanced plans to expand GME training to the Neighbor Islands.
• Secured three endowments to support two departmental chairs and the Dr. Elizabeth Tam Medicine Academy. The Dr. Elizabeth Tam Medicine Academy is supporting 1-2 faculty fellowships a year to build an academic clinician educator track and honors Dr. Tam's legacy of excellence in medical education.
•Recruited, with gracious funding from Interim Dean Lee Buenconsejo Lum, the DOM’s first data scientist to jumpstart clinical research. The data scientist has enabled the DOM to access clinical data across the country and at the Queen’s Medical Center with great assistance from Dr. Cecilia Shikuma and Dr. Todd Seto.
•Formed a the UH DOM Research Review Committee which offers expert review of all new clinical research protocols from medical students, trainees and faculty for feedback and assistance.
•Formed the Internal Medicine Research Interest Group (IMRIG)
•Helped start the Addiction Center and Women in Medicine group.
Dr. Kuwada also serves as the Interim Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research.
Dr. Kuwada is not departing JABSOM. He plans to continue as a half-time faculty member in Gastroenterology through March 2028 and will remain actively involved as Program Director of the GI Fellowship. His continued engagement will be particularly valuable as the fellowship prepares for its upcoming accreditation review in 2027.
We thank Dr. Kuwada for giving us a full year to initiate a national search for the next Chair of the Department of Medicine, which will ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.
Additional information regarding the search process will be shared in the coming months.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Kuwada for his steady leadership and his commitment to strengthening the Department of Medicine and our Graduate Medical Education programs. His work has positioned the department for continued growth and success.
Mahalo,
Sam