Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 3, 1 March 1991 — Health career opportunities for Hawaiians [ARTICLE]

Health career opportunities for Hawaiians

Laura Young, an energetic and talented Hawaiian/Chinese woman, recently graduated with a Master's Degree in Environmental Health from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, School of Public Health. Her thesis research titled the "Isolation and Characterization of Leptospire from O'ahu Streams" was presented at an international meeting held in Japan in Nov. 1990.

Young is one of five children of Henry and Sylvia Young of Hilo. She was born and raised aIong the slopes of Mauna Loa in the sleepy town of Hilo. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School, and continued her education at the University of Hawai'i, Hilo ( UHH) . Because of her interest in her Hawaiian heritage and the sciences, she majored in biology and minored in Hawaiian studies. While at UHH, she entered the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS). Here, she conducted research and prepared herself for entrance into a graduate program. After obtaining her bachelor's degree Laura took a year off to decide on whieh graduate program to enter. Through a counselor from the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), she became aware of the School of Public Health at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa.

"At Manoa I became involved with the HCOP program. The program gave me encouragement, confidence and the support that I needed to pursue my goal. I've always enjoyed the research aspect of science, and I also enjoy working with people. HCOP really gave me the academic and

social support I needed." Some of the services HCOP provides are preadmission counseling and application review; a summer preparatory program; academic advising and support, and assistance with financial aid applications. The program coordinator and staffis available to the student at all times, even evenings and weekends.

"The unexpected benefit was the support and friendships I developed with fellow HCOP students. We supported eaeh other during the hard times and good times. We did not compete against eaeh other. It felt like family . . . Some of us weren't from Honolulu and did not know the Manoa campus, the others helped us get around and become familiar with the campus and the surrounding area."

The future of Young is very bright. I would like to pursue my Ph.D. in Environmental Health. But for now, there are many environmental issues in Hawai'i that need to be addressed and I would like to be a part of it . . . Someday, I would like to be in an administrative position and help set policy for Hawaii's environment."

Few Native Hawaiians have walked down that academic aisle and to receive that "sheepskin". Statistics show that during fall semester 1990, only 3.5 percent of the entire graduate school enrollment at the University of Hawai'i was of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Similarly, during the same semester, the number was approximately 4 percent at the

School of Public Health. These figures fall far below the 19 percent-plus Native Hawaiian population in the state.

The U.S. Congress has recognized the poor health status of Native Hawaiians and has begun to financially support health programs to improve this status. It would be a shame if Native Hawaiians are served only by non-natives. The Hawaiian community needs more Hawaiians as health professionals. HCOP is a program within the School of Public Health that provides an avenue for under-represented minorities such as Native Hawaiians to obtain a Masters Degree in Public Health although they do not initially meet the minimum requirements for admission.

The University of Hawai'i, School of Public Health looks forward to continued efforts with the Hawaiian community to increase the enrollment of Native Hawaiian students. For more information, eall: Manny Cantorna at 956-6234 or write to him at: Health Careers Opportunity Program, University of Hawai'i, School of Public Health, 1960 East/West Road, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822.

by Manny T. Cantorna, MSW, MPH HCOP Coordinator School of Pub\ic Health University of Hawai'i