DIRECTOR & FULL FACULTY SPECIALIST
Dr. Kiana Shiroma
CV
Degrees: B.A. Speech & Certificate in Ethnic Studies (2006)
M.A. in Speech (2008)
PhD in Educational Administration with a Focus on Higher Education (2014)
Hometown: Kailua, HI
Fun Fact: I love coffee and crocheting!
Motto: YOLO! (You Only Live Once)
ADVISOR
Daasha Thornton
Degree: B.S. Communication (2005)
M.Ed. Teaching and Leadership (2015)
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Fun Fact: Bailamos, I love Salsa dancing and Bachata and use to teach Latin dancing once upon a time
Motto: Faith over Fear
PRE-MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Maria Chun
Degree: B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Sociology (1989)
M.A. in Psychology (1991)
Ph.D. in Psychology - Community and Cultural (1996)
Hometown: Aiea, HI
Fun Fact: I wrote the lyrics to my class song!
Motto: Believe in yourself!
PRE-MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Sheri Fong
Degree:
Hometown:
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AHEC ADVISOR
Aaron Joyo
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PRE-MEDICAL ADVISOR
Christyn Mellor
Degree: BS Biology- UH Manoa
Hometown: Kailua, HI
Fun Fact: I like to play music!
Motto: You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
SENIOR PEER LEADER
Kristyn Miyamoto
Degree: B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Hometown: Pearl City, HI
Fun Fact: I drink half-caffeinated coffee every morning.
Motto: Optimism is a force multiplier.
Ask Me About: Majoring in molecular cell biology (MCB)
SENIOR PEER LEADER
Lauren Nakamine
Degree: Masters of Medical Sciences Physician Assistant at Hawaii Pacific University (2026)
B.S. in Biology (2022)
Minor: Japanese Language (2022)
Hometown: Pearl City, HI
Fun Fact: My vision is -10.75 in both eyes so my lens are about 3/8 inch wide!
Motto: Ryukyu Saying: なんくるないさ [nankurunaisa] which means "Everything will work out in the end"
Ask Me About: PA school, taking gap years, switching from pre-med to pre-PA, applying to PA school, recommended UHM classes, video games, K-Pop
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Lauren Nakashima
Degree: M.S. in Marketing Managment (2025)
B.S. in HDFS & B.B.A. Marketing (2024)
Hometown: Mililani, HI
Fun Fact: I'm left handed!
Motto: If you don't ask, the answer will always be no.
Ask Me About:
PRE-HEALTH PEER ADVISOR
Alicia Kaita
Degree: B.S. in Kinesiology and Rehab Science (KRS)
Minor: Honors Program
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Kailua, HI
Fun Fact: I've been to more countries than states!
Motto: It's not impossible, it's just hard.
Ask Me About: Extracurricular activities, volunteering, Honors Program, switching majors, anime, K-pop
PRE-HEALTH PEER ADVISOR
Collin Whitley
Degree: B.S. in Biology
Minor: Honors Program
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Fun Fact: I was the youngest contestant ever to compete in the Hershey Half Marathon!
Motto: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
Ask Me About: Anything medicine related (shadowing opportunities, volunteering resources, MCAT prep, school selection and research opportunities), the honors program, how to juggle a heavy course load, studying strategies and more!
PRE-LAW ADVISOR
Hannah Hawley
Degree: J.D. Candidate. Certificate in International and Comparative Law
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Brentwood, CA
Fun Fact: I was a gymnast my whole childhood and I was a student athlete in college, competing in Acrobatics & Tumbling.
Motto: Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produced perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Ask Me About: choosing a major, applying to law school, generic law school questions
PRE-HEALTH PEER ADVISOR
Kayla Mishima
Degree: B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology
Minor: Honors Program
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Pearl City, HI
Fun Fact: I studied Organic Chemistry abroad in Ireland.
Motto: It is better to try and fail than to not try at all.
Ask Me About: Majoring in Molecular Cell Biology, Honors Program, extracurricular activities, Organic Chemistry Study Abroad
PRE-LAW ADVISOR
Lily Ostrander
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PRE-LAW ADVISOR
Victoria Shiraki
Degree: J.D. Candidate
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Hometown: Orange Park, FL
Fun Fact: My most listened to song so far in the year 2023 is Fireplace Crackling, Pt. 1 by Nature Helps You Sleep.
Motto: Fortune favors the bold!
Ask Me About: Law school in general, applications, Richardson, etc.
PRE-HEALTH PEER ADVISOR
Vinny Langit
Degree: B.S in Biology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking
Motto: It's only after you've stepped out of your comfort zone that you begin to see change.
Ask Me About: Pre-dental track, volunteering/shadowing, switching to a science major
PRE-LAW ADVISOR
Zhanelyn Cacho
Degree: J.D. Candidate
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Hometown: Honoka'a, Hawaii Island
Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking
Motto: I used the play the tenor sax in an all girls jazz band called the Little Lady band.
Ask Me About: Law school in general, applications, Richardson, etc.
Mission
Our mission is to provide comprehensive advice, information, and opportunities to students and alumni of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa so that they can discover their pre-health or pre-law and professional dreams and transform them into reality.
Service Overview
The Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center (PAC) is a walk-in resource center for students interested in law, medicine, or the health sciences (dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.). PAC also provides the following services:
- One-on-one Advising (in-person, online, or phone)
- Mandatory Advising
- Assistance in Choosing a Major
- Academic Planning
- Workshops and Orientations
- Engagement Opportunities
- Lending Library including test prep materials
- And more!
Values
PAC operates within the following values:
- Health and law professions are open to everyone with the desire, aptitude, and motivation to pursue them.
- Career choice is one of the most important decisions one can make in life, so it is critical that students know their options, choose carefully and wisely, and know that it is okay that their career choice can change in the future.
- Students choose their own paths and make their own decisions.
- To make good decisions, students need accurate, up-to-date, and unbiased information.
- When making decisions, students benefit from sympathetic but honest guidance and from being able to discuss their options with nonjudgmental peers.
Student Outcomes
PAC students can:
- Describe the eight steps to professional school” and what they need to do for each step.
- List engagement opportunities available at UH Mānoa.
- Create an accurate academic plan that includes:
- application timeline,
- prerequisite courses,
- career-related activities,
- general education requirements,
- major requirements, and
- minimum credit requirements.
- Create a curriculum vitae/résumé.
- Use appropriate resources to research and accomplish the eight steps.
- Engage in self-evaluation in light of career goals.
Testimonials
Vinny helped me understand the possible premed careers following graduation, the different steps and requirements, and provided me with resources- including academic planning, internship advice and information, and lots of helpful advice! I feel more prepared and less overwhelmed now that I have these resources.
Dr. Fong did an amazing job helping me prepare for upcoming medical school interviews. She asked a lot of great questions and provided thorough feedback! I really appreciate her!
Meeting with Lauren was such a great opportunity. I was able to somewhat relate to someone who understands what I'm going through. She was super understanding and I felt very comfortable talking to her.
Dr. Kiana provided clear and concise explanations, creating a comfortable atmosphere throughout the entire session. She thoroughly addressed my questions and ensured any confusion was clarified. I highly recommend her to students pursuing a health-related major.
Dr. Kiana responds to emails quickly! She is concise, helpful, and made me feel comfortable asking all my questions. She's awesome, and I highly recommend her for academic counseling in Pre-Health.
Thank you, Dr. Shiroma, for remembering me and informing me about switching my major to align with my desired graduation date. Also keeping me accountable for what may arise in my future. Furthermore, I will start to utilize the plan that we created to keep track of my progress for my degree pathway.
Daasha is an amazing person and overall just makes you feel so welcomed the second you step foot into her office. I loved our meeting, and she made me feel safe. I understood everything she said.