Research
Faculty
JABSOM physician-scientist Dr. Dominic Chow has been selected to join the 2026 Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Forum at the National Academy of Medicine.
The forum is an invitation-only program that brings together early and mid-career professionals from across the country who are shaping the future of health care, research and policy.
“It’s a real honor,” Chow said. “To be able to interact with members of the National Academy of Medicine and contribute to discussions that help guide health policy is something I don’t take lightly.”
Chow’s selection highlights his career of global experience and his commitment to improving health in Hawaiʻi.
After completing his residency at Yale School of Medicine, Chow went on to study at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he served as a health officer in Guyana and led a yellow fever outbreak investigation. That early work opened the door for his career, which would focus on infectious disease, public health and health equity.
At JABSOM, Chow has become a leader in HIV care and research through his work with the Hawaiʻi Center for AIDS (HICFA). Over the years, he has contributed to clinical trials that helped advance highly active antiretroviral therapy, which knocked HIV from a once-fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition for many patients.
“We’ve seen patients go from what was essentially a death sentence in the 1990s to now thriving,” Chow said.
Today, his work goes beyond HIV. As program director of Ola HAWAII, JABSOM’s largest NIH-funded initiative, Chow helps expand access to clinical research across the state, specifically in underserved communities. The program supports the development of local researchers while increasing opportunities for residents to participate in state-of-the-art clinical trials, including studies on Long COVID and other conditions.
“I think bringing clinical trials to various populations across Hawaiʻi helps create more equity,” Chow said.
That focus on access and equity is a defining part of Chow’s work and a key reason for his selection to the Emerging Leaders Forum.
The program brings participants from a wide range of disciplines to collaborate on solutions to some of the most critical challenges in health and medicine. While Chow is still awaiting details on his specific role, he expects to contribute to discussions that inform national policy and future directions in care, which ensures Hawaiʻi and its unique health challenges are represented in this national discussion.
“We have a responsibility to address health disparities here in Hawaiʻi and beyond,” he said. “I hope to bring that perspective to the conversation.”
Chow is also quick to credit the mentors and colleagues who supported his journey, noting that his achievements demonstrate a broader, collaborative effort within JABSOM.
“No one could do this work alone,” Chow said. “I’ve been fortunate to have incredible support along the way. I am sincerely grateful to former Dean Jerris Hedges for his nomination and to Dr. Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, Chair of Native Hawaiian Health at JABSOM, for his steadfast support. I also extend my appreciation to Drs. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum and Sam Shomaker for their academic and financial support, which has been instrumental in making this journey possible.”