Pathways to Medicine

Native Hawaiian Interdisciplinary Health (NHIH) is a program for Native Hawaiian pre-health students (NHSPM premed students and social work students) that nurtures more  understanding of community healthcare through cultural-based service learning. Workshops are led by Native Hawaiian traditional healers, faculty and staff with the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the University of Hawaii Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health. Interdisciplinary team work encourages students to learn the impact of effective teamwork on a patient’s health.

The NHIH program is for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate Native Hawaiian health students. Priority is given to premed students who participated in the NHSPM program as well as Native Hawaiian Bachelor of Social Work students.

Native Hawaiian values, history and culture is at the core of the program.  Cultural specialists in traditional Native Hawaiian healing arts, such as ho’oponopono (spiritual family peacemaking), la’au lapa ‘au (herbal medicine) and lomilomi (traditional massage), as well as leaders in the Native Hawaiian community, will serve as guest faculty and provide cultural mentorship.