Women's History Month is a time to celebrate women's incredible contributions throughout history, including the field of medicine. From ancient healers to modern-day researchers, women have made an indelible mark on healthcare worldwide.
Let's take a look at some of Hawaii's women in medicine.
The first Native Hawaiian woman MD is Roberta Apau Ikemoto, who specializes in radiology. She is a graduate of Kamehameha and the University of California School at San Francisco medical school. (1)
Graduate of Kalani High School, Creighton University, and Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Marjorie Mau, MD, MS, became the first woman in Hawaii to be recognized as a "Master physician" by the American College of Physicians. In addition to treating patients on Molokaʻi and in Honolulu, Dr. Mau is a prolific scientist who has conducted groundbreaking research in metabolic disorders among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. (2)
Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng is a local family physician who has been treating patients for 20 years and teaching at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at UH since 2002. She is the first local physician to help set national recommendations for regular screenings and tests with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (3)
In addition to these remarkable women, JABSOM has also been affiliated with several Native Hawaiian women authors who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine.
Dr. Naleen Andrade, MD, was the first Native Hawaiian woman to become a psychiatrist and the first to lead a department of Psychiatry at a U.S. medical school. Currently the Executive Vice President of Native Hawaiian Health and Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEIJ) Officer at The Queen’s Health System (QHS), she works in collaboration with other healthcare and community-based organizations to improve the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii. (4)
Mele Look has devoted the majority of her life to addressing Native Hawaiian health disparities. She has collaborated with Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to design, carry out, and assess health intervention and education initiatives that all involve seniors. She founded and facilitated the Ulu Network, a community health coalition while serving as the director of community engagement for the Department of Native Hawaiian Health and the Center for Native and Pacific Health Research. The Ulu Network now has 80+ sites across Hawai'i, including all 19 federally qualified health clinics (FQHC) and all 5 federally established Native Hawaiian Healthcare Systems. (5)
At our library, we are thrilled to celebrate Women's History Month and honor the achievements of women in medicine. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn more about the amazing women who have paved the way in healthcare and continue to inspire us today.
Want to read stories about some amazing women? Check out some of these books in our collection!
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