{"id":199469,"date":"2024-06-18T13:01:33","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T23:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=199469"},"modified":"2024-06-18T13:01:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T23:01:33","slug":"imi-hoola-2024-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/06\/18\/imi-hoola-2024-graduates\/","title":{"rendered":"\u02bbImi Ho\u02bb\u014dla graduates secure JABSOM<\/abbr> admission"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"imi
The ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> Class of 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nine graduates of the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa medical school\u2019s ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> class of 2024 have earned admission as first-year students to the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>). <\/p>\n

The ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2023<\/a>, is part of JABSOM<\/abbr>\u2019s Department of Native Hawaiian Health<\/a>. During the rigorous year-long program, selected students study sciences and humanities, and refine their communication and critical-thinking skills. The program has guided more than 300 students from disadvantaged backgrounds toward medical careers, with many serving Hawaiʻi<\/span>. <\/p>\n

“It’s the most amazing feeling,” said Aljay Carnate, one of the 2024 program graduates. “I think it’s probably going to hit me at the White Coat Ceremony. I get super emotional because I’ve tried so hard, so many times, and now I’m finally going to live the dream I’ve been longing for.”<\/p>\n

Student\u2019s perseverance, dedication pays off<\/h2>\n
\"carpenter,
Aljay Carnate, center, with Associate Professor Dee-Ann Carpenter and Interim Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Lum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It teaches you to navigate and be resilient because medicine is not easy,” said Carnate, who faced several challenges during his application process. Initially, he applied to both ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> and JABSOM<\/abbr> but was rejected. On his second attempt, he was waitlisted for ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> but denied admission to JABSOM<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“I gave myself a third try, and this time, I was waitlisted for JABSOM<\/abbr> but accepted into ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span>,” Carnate explained. <\/p>\n

Once admitted to the program, Carnate dedicated himself to his studies, often studying from early morning until late at night, sacrificing time with family and friends. <\/p>\n

It teaches you to navigate and be resilient because medicine is not easy.
—Aljay Carnate<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“It was a sacrifice that I had to make, but I knew that this would allow me to pursue a path in medicine,” he said.<\/p>\n

Carnate was inspired to become a physician after his grandmother, who battled stage four cancer, passed away. <\/p>\n

“She didn’t tell us about her condition until it was too late because she didn’t want to place a financial burden on my parents,” said Carnate, who wants to be able to provide medical access to low-income communities like Kalihi. <\/p>\n

Carnate hopes to inspire future generations as well. “I represent the low-income, gay, first-generation and Filipino immigrant communities. I hope that by having these identities, my patients can relate to me and trust me. I also hope to empower and uplift those in future generations who want to go into medicine. They can see me and be like, ‘Hey, if he can do it, then I can do it too,’” he added.<\/p>\n

The other 2024 ʻImi<\/span> Hoʻōla<\/span> graduates are Lindney Acosta, Richelle Hannah Alfonso, Kai Hirayama, Jeannie Ho, Christian Llantero, Nicholas Loi, Kiara Moffitt and Leo Wu.<\/p>\n

Read more at JABSOM<\/abbr><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The program has guided more than 300 students from disadvantaged backgrounds toward medical careers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[1004,31,1466,9],"class_list":["post-199469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-imi-hoola","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t