A new Department of Native Hawaiian Health in the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine aims to reverse the high numbers of native Hawaiians with chronic diseases, officials said. UH focuses on
native Hawaiian healthBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comThe department's creation was announced yesterday by the school and The Queen's Health Systems, which is giving it a $5 million boost -- $1 million per year for five years.
Dr. Marjorie K. Mau, professor and chair of the new department, said the department is the result of efforts of organizations and individuals "who all share in a common purpose of improving the health of all native Hawaiian people."
"In a state that leads the nation with 90 percent of the population having health insurance, why is it that so many communities, especially native Hawaiian communities, still suffer the worst health status?" Mau said.
She said the new department "will seek partnerships with others to investigate the 'whys' and, more importantly, will focus on finding solutions."
A major goal is to reduce and eliminate health disparities in native Hawaiians and other Pacific populations, she said.
Statistics indicate that native Hawaiians are at a higher risk of ailments such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to Queen's.
Dr. Gary Okamoto, Queen's Health Systems president, said the organization's commitment to the new department fulfills "the intent of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV to provide in perpetuity quality health care services to improve the well-being of native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii."
He said the funds invested in the new department will come from land left by Queen Emma and managed by the Queen Emma Foundation.
Okamoto said Queen's has supported many programs to improve the health and care of native Hawaiians, but statistics show little or no change.
"The work of the new department aims to change those statistics in a favorable direction," he said.
Dr. Edwin Cadman, dean of the medical school, said, "We will go beyond health; we will educate these people (native Hawaiians) to become leaders in the healthcare industry."
He said the new department's administration and research functions will be in the medical school to be built at Kakaako.
University of Hawaii
