Dr. Keawe Kaholokula is Elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Congratulations Keawe!!

“It was good day yesterday as Dr. Spero Manson and I welcomed Dr. Keawe Kaholokula into the National Academy of Medicine” – Jerris Hedges, MD. Dr. Manson and Dr, Hedges are both members of the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, PhD, Professor and Department Chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, is the second active faculty member to represent the University of Hawaiʻi. Dr. Kaholokula is believed to be the first Native Hawaiian elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Dr. Spero Manson (also a NAM member), recommended Dr. Kaholokula to this prestigious organization.

As Dr. Spero Manson, Distinguished Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, noted in nominating Dr. Kaholokula for membership in the National Academy of Medicine, “this prestigious appointment recognizes his pioneering evidence-based interventions using Indigenous cultural values and practices to improve cardiovascular, diabetes, and obesity disparities for thousands of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NH/PI). Dr. Kaholokula’s contributions span science and practice, provide direction to health care systems serving NH/PI, and prepare future generations of NH/PI scientists in their successful pursuit of sponsored research.”

“Dr. Kaholokula’s election to the National Academy of Medicine is a groundbreaking moment for the John A. Burns School of Medicine, but also the Native Hawaiian community. Through his community-engaged research, culturally grounded interventions, and community-based trials, he has earned community trust and ensured their global representation,” says JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker.

“Keawe has fought to uncover health disparities in Native Hawaiians and his work will profoundly impact disease prevention in this population for generations to come,” comments Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng, MD, MSEE, MPH.

Dr. Kaholokula is the Multiple Principal Investigator, together with Dr. Neal Palafox, for the PIKO Program, NIH NIGMS U54GM138062.

See JABSOM Press Release Video: https://jabsom.hawaii.edu/news-events/news/2024/10/kaholokula-elected-to-nam-2024.html

UH News: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/10/22/kaholokula-elected-to-nam/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UH+News+102324