{"id":232274,"date":"2026-04-14T15:24:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232274"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:39:10","slug":"giving-day-jabsom-2026-pinnow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/14\/giving-day-jabsom-2026-pinnow\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving Day fuels future physician\u2019s path to serve Hawaiʻi"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Kyle Chinen (Hawaii News Now), Winona Lee (JABSOM<\/abbr>), Emma Pinnow and Casey Lund (Hawaii News Now)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span>, Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event to support our ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ<\/abbr> students and embrace the rich diversity and expansive reach of our university system.<\/p>\n

At the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM<\/abbr>), where more than 90% of students are awarded some form of scholarship, donors make a great impact in their journeys in medicine. For first-year medical student Emma Pinnow, that journey started with the ʻImi Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Post Baccalaureate Program.<\/p>\n

Read more ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ<\/abbr> Giving Day stories<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ahead of a Giving Day appearance on Hawaiʻi<\/span> News Now, JABSOM<\/abbr> sat down with Pinnow.<\/p>\n

Q: How did ʻImi Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> put you on a path to medicine?<\/h2>\n

I come from a family deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s public school system, so while education was always the priority, medicine was a brand-new endeavor for me. My dream was always to stay home, to be near family and learn to provide care specifically tailored to our people here in Hawaiʻi<\/span>. ʻImi Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span>, which means “those who seek to heal” in ʻ\u014clelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span>, was the bridge to that dream. It\u2019s a rigorous 12-month journey, and completing it provided me with automatic admission to JABSOM<\/abbr>. But more than just a seat in the class, it gave me the foundational competence and the unshakeable support system I needed.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t just gain knowledge, I gained a cohort, mentors and a community that believed in my potential when I was just starting out. What truly changed the trajectory for me was the generosity of our donors. I was fully prepared to take on a massive financial burden to pursue this path, but because of their support, my experience was tuition-free. This didn\u2019t just save money, it gave me the gift of time and focus. Instead of juggling my studies with a job, I can dedicate 100% of my energy to the rigors of medical school. It only takes one group of people to believe in you to open a door. For me, that door was ʻImi Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span>. It allowed me to show my potential and has put me on a path to serve the community that raised me.<\/p>\n

Q: What are your goals in medicine?<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m currently a little more than halfway through my first year, and honestly, it\u2019s been very exciting. Every week I\u2019m exposed to a new specialty or a different organ system, and I\u2019m making it my goal to learn as much as I can and to lean into every opportunity to the fullest extent. While I haven’t settled on a specific specialty yet, I have settled on the where and the who. No matter what field I choose, I am committed to serving the people of Hawaiʻi<\/span>. This is my home, and I truly can\u2019t imagine being anywhere else.<\/p>\n

Being Native Hawaiian, I am especially aware of the health disparities our community faces, particularly with cardiometabolic disease. One of my primary goals in medicine is to directly address these inequities. I want to take the education we receive here at JABSOM<\/abbr>, which emphasizes culturally-competent care, and apply it in a way that resonates with our local population. Ultimately, my goal is to bridge the gap between high-level medical science and the unique cultural needs of our islands. Giving back to the community that raised me is my way of honoring where I come from.<\/p>\n

Read more about Emma Pinnow\u2019s journey at JABSOM<\/abbr><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Donate to JABSOM<\/abbr> and the ʻImi Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Post Baccalaureate Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n