The Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) is proud to celebrate alumna Sydney Shibuya, who was recognized at the 2025 Wāhine Awards by Honolulu Magazine. Shibuya was among 39 outstanding business and community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, health care professionals, and creatives honored for their contributions to making Hawaiʻi a stronger, healthier place.
Shibuya earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Spring 2024. Her interest in community-based public health grew through coursework and field experiences, particularly under the mentorship of Dr. Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda and Dr. Jane Chung-Do.
“During my time at DPHS, I gained experience that contributed to my development in public health and has led me to where I am today, not only as a public health professional but also as a member of my community,” said Shibuya, an Associate Program Manager at the American Heart Association (AHA).
Shibuya joined AHA as a Community Health Coordinator in December 2023, while pursuing her MPH, where she worked with Hawaiʻi’s underserved populations on initiatives related to food security and hypertension education. In just a year, she advanced to her current role as an Associate Program Manager, where she works under the Helmsley Foundation, supporting initiatives focused on stroke education, hypertension, and cardiovascular health.
“It was a sincere pleasure to be a partner in Sydney’s growth during her time in our program, especially in terms of her confidence and leadership,” Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda shared, reflecting on Shibuya’s accomplishments. “She is a wonderful example of how our graduates go on to serve the community. We’re so happy that Sydney’s commitment to public health is being recognized.”
During her public health graduate program, Shibuya contributed to several campus and community initiatives. She founded the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) chapter at UH Mānoa, where she helped register more than 500 people to become potential donors for the organization. She also served as Academics Chair for the Graduate Hui Ola Pono (the public health student association).
“We are immensely proud of Sydney for this exceptional achievement. This award is a testament not only to her commitment to public health but also her remarkable dedication to the wellbeing of Hawaiʻi’s communities,” said Dr. Chung-Do who served on Sydney’s capstone committee.
Shibuya’s practicum with the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute involved supporting the statewide Kaukau 4 Keiki program, which distributed more than 900,000 meals to children and families. At the same time, her role as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Healthy Hawaiʻi Evaluation Team deepened her interest in public health program evaluation and chronic disease prevention efforts.
“Public health is the glue that keeps a community functioning through the efforts of many individuals working hard to be changemakers,” said Shibuya. “The community benefits when we work together for a better future.”
Her recognition at the 2025 Wāhine Awards highlights the many contributions of UH Mānoa public health graduates across Hawaiʻi and beyond.
