University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Celebrates More than Fifty Years of Public Health

HONOLULU, HI—During National Public Health Week 2018, more than 225 people gathered on April 3 to celebrate more than 50 years of Public Health at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  An academic unit in the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, UH Public Health has graduated more than 3,900 students, who have provided more than 1 million hours of community service through practica in the past 50 years. 

Senator Rosalyn Baker, Representative John Mizuno, and Senator Les Ihara joined the celebration to bestow a congratulatory message from the Hawai‘i State Legislature. Commendations also were received from Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono.

Professor Kathryn Braun, Director and Chair of the Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS), reminded the audience that 25 of the 30-year gain in life span over the past century has been due to public health advances, including public sanitation, clean water, disease control, and tobacco policy. “I’m proud of the role UH Public Health has played in training public health professionals who now work in Hawai‘i, the continental US, and around the world.”

The event, held at Café Julia at in the Richards Street YWCA, brought together a wide community of public health practitioners, scholars, and students. “One of the reasons why I love public health is that it is inclusive—it includes people. We try to help those that have some disadvantages get equality and those with abundant resources link with those who need more resources,” commented Valerie Yontz, OPHS MPH Practicum Coordinator.

Attendees reaffirmed their passion and commitment to public health. “Through my public health training, I learned that much of what determines our health status is found outside the traditional clinic—from education, jobs, and affordable housing, to community safety and access to healthy food,” remarked Dr. Robert Hirokawa MPH '98 and DrPH '08 and current CEO of the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association (HPCA). 

Trisha Kajimura, MPH '11 and executive director of Mental Health America of Hawai‘i (MHAH), noted, “Public health helps us to focus on the root of the problem and addressing social determinants is core to public health. We have a responsibility to address injustice in its many forms—from participating in advocacy through providing services that engage people’s strengths.”

Commented Vanessa Buchthal, assistant professor and event coordinator, “It was wonderful to see everyone – our alumni, community partners, students, and faculty all celebrating together!  This event really highlighted the depth and breadth of our programs, and the role we, and our alumni, play in strengthening public health in Hawai‘i.”

Alumni and students reflected on the role UH Public Health played in their careers. “I grew up in this program.  I received both my MPH and DrPH degrees here and now I’m faculty.  I am grateful that I was able to stay in Hawai‘i and not leave the state to get my degrees.  I’m proud to continue the honor and responsibility of mentoring our students, while hoping to pique their interest in research,” said May Rose Dela Cruz, assistant researcher.

“My MPH degree gave me good skills in grant writing and group facilitation, skills that I have used every day,” said Judith Clark, MPH '77 and the executive director of the Hawai‘i Youth Services Network (HYSN). “I liked the training because it went beyond book-learning by requiring a practicum that challenged us to solve real issues in real agencies,” said Clark

Students also had the chance to meet with working public health professionals. “I’m interested in public health because I’m interested in making system-level changes,” said Sasha Madan, current MPH student and alumni from the BA Public Health program.

The UH Public Health Faculty Research Profile was also officially launched and is available here.

UH Public Health offers nationally accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Its 30 faculty are experts in topics ranging from infectious disease to chronic disease, from child health to end of life, from genetics to the environment, and from health promotion and prevention to treatment and services. Its collaborates with 10+ branches of the Hawai‘i Department of Health (HDOH). In 2017, the Office secured $3.8 million in extramural funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HDOH, and others. Their faculty have collaborations with individuals in 70+ international universities.

John Mizuno, Kathryn Braun, Rosalyn Baker, and Les Ihara with the congratulatory message from the Hawai‘i State Legislature (April 3, 2018) celebrating more than 50 years of public health at the University of Hawai‘i at MānoaLorraine Stringfellow at the celebrating more than 50 years of Public Health event (April 3, 2018)

Attendees at the more than 50 years of Public Health event (April 3, 2018)

Hawai‘i State Legislature Public Health CommendationSenator Brian Schatz Letter Public HealthLetter Senator Mazie Hirono Public Health

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50+ years public health, cafe julia