The Queen's Health Systems and Medical School Partner to Establish the Department of Native Hawaiian Health

Gary Okamoto, MD, President & CEO, The Queen's Health Systems; Marjorie Mau, MD, Chairperson, Department of Native Hawaiian Health; and Edwin Cadman, MD, Dean, John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

During Heritage Day, the celebration of The Queen's Medical Center's 143rd year, an historic announcement was made to institute a Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. A partnership of The Queen's Health Systems and the School of Medicine, the new department's mission is to be "an academic center of excellence committed to optimal health and wellness of all Native Hawaiian people through research, education and health care practices."

More Native Hawaiians die from cancer, circulatory disorders and diabetes. More Native Hawaiians suffer from hypertension, asthma, heart disease and chronic lung disease. Goals will be reached through the following:

Research. Building capacity to conduct hypothesis-driven research of high priority to Native Hawaiian health.

Education and training. Establishing a "learning center" devoted to the education and development of Native Hawaiian health care leaders.

Health care services. Partnering with Native Hawaiian communities to develop and translate effective models of health care.

Some of the objectives and outcomes in the next five years include peer-reviewed publications, research grants, feasibility studies to health care improvement in major health areas, Native Hawaiian health leadership training, a Molokai diabetes program and improving access to health care services.

Dr. Marjorie Mau is interviewed by reporters.

School of Medicine professor Marjorie K. Mau, MD, will serve as Chairperson of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health. Queen's will invest $1 million for each of the next five years. "The funds...will come from the actual lands left by Queen Emma and managed by the Queen Emma Foundation," said Gary Okamoto, MD, President and CEO of QHS. "This commitment is an investment in our mission to improve the health of Native Hawaiians and [ultimately] all the people of Hawaii as set forth by our founders."