Kaua‘i medical program builds pipeline to address physician shortage

The Kaua‘i Medical Training Track program welcomed its fourth cohort.

Students and faculty share time together beyond the classroom and clinic.

For Thomas Gausepohl, returning to his hometown of Kapa‘a to study medicine is more than a dream come true—it’s a chance to give back. As part of the Kaua‘i Medical Training Track’s fourth cohort, he joins a growing number of local students learning to serve their own communities through a unique rural health initiative that's transforming care on the Garden Isle.

Established with a $10 million gift from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, the Kauaʻi Medical Training Track (KMTT) aims to cultivate a dedicated cohort of physicians committed to serving rural communities.

“Mark and I are so pleased to see the Kaua‘i Medical Training Track welcome its fourth cohort,” said Dr. Chan. “With 22 students now in the pipeline, the program will help meet Kaua‘i’s medical needs for years to come.”

Administered by the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), the program offers an immersive training experience on Kaua‘i, allowing medical students to live, learn and train on the island for up to 15 months throughout their four-year education.

“Rather than a brief rotation, this pathway integrates students into the fabric of Kauaʻi so when they graduate, it will be an easier transition for them to return to the community,” said Travis Hong, M.D., Director of Rural Training at JABSOM. “In addition to building medical knowledge, we’re developing community connections and long-term commitment.”

Students accepted into the program receive extensive support, including tuition, housing and transportation, in exchange for a four-year post-graduation commitment to practice on Kaua‘i. While open to all applicants, the program prioritizes those with local ties or a demonstrated interest in rural medicine.

“Learning alongside doctors and preceptors who serve in Kauaʻi’s rural health system will be invaluable,” said Gausepohl, who was born in Kapa‘a and graduated valedictorian from Kapa‘a High School. “I think it will definitely help me see what this kind of work looks like day to day, and what it means to be part of a team that’s truly serving the community.”

Since its launch, the KMTT program has attracted increasing interest, drawing numerous applicants for each of the available six slots. It has also generated strong support among Kaua‘i physicians, with 35-40 volunteering as educators and 22 serving as core faculty – all actively practicing on the island.  

“Word-of-mouth and media exposure have helped the program grow organically,” said Hong. “And we’re seeing how this kind of sustained, place-based medical education really makes a difference – not only for the students, but for the entire Kaua‘i health care system.”

Kirra Borrello, a fourth-year medical student and a member of the first KMTT cohort, said the program changed the way she thinks about medicine. “Participation in KMTT has significantly broadened my medical education by combining principles of community engagement and service into traditional clinical training,” she added. “Working closely with the Kauaʻi community preceptors throughout my third year has highlighted the importance of cultural competence and social determinants of health in delivering patient-centered care, especially in a tight-knit rural community such as Kauaʻi.”

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Photo captions:
1) Cohort group photo in white coats: Kaua‘i Medical Training Track welcomed its fourth cohort, including, from left, Sasha Rovinsky, Amy Odaira, Nadia Apo Takayama, Ma Carmela Therese Angaran, Kylah Slane and Thomas Gausepohl.

2) Classroom group photo: Students and faculty share time together beyond the classroom and clinic.