Ola means “health” and “to heal” in Hawaiian. Achieving health and wellness for the communities in Hawaii, which suffer disproportionately from genetic, environmental and socio-economic disparities in health and healthcare access, is the rationale for the proposed Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Specialized Center. The strategic goal of the Center, named Ola HAWAII, is to grow and support a community of health disparities investigators and collaborators (the “workforce”) to harness the power of diverse thought (the “thinkforce”) to determine the causes of and interventions for health disparities in the Pacific. With its piko (center) based at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), the breadth of research activity will encompass the College of Health Sciences and Social Welfare (CHSSW), which also includes the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health (TSSWPH), with its Department of Social Work (SW), Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) and Center on Aging (COA), and the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH). Other partnering units include the UH Cancer Center (UHCC), College of Natural Sciences (CNS), and Pacific Biosciences Research Center (PBRC). CHSSW and its partners have strong records of commitment to educating and serving underrepresented populations with health disparities, including Native Hawaiians, the indigenous people of Hawaii, as well as Filipinos and other Pacific Islanders. Ola HAWAII will achieve the overall RCMI Specialized Center goal through three strategic imperatives or aims.
Led by the Dean of JABSOM, Jerris R. Hedges, MD, and the Former Dean of TSSWPH, Noreen Mokuau, DSW, and in partnership with a Program Director and Core Directors with outstanding funding and publication records and strong commitments to mentoring and career development, as well as in collaboration with local CBO, the proposed RCMI Specialized Center will provide the infrastructure and resources to develop and support transdisciplinary teams of health disparities investigators and community collaborators to conduct basic biomedical, behavioral and clinical research on the causes of health disparities and the most effective solutions to reduce health disparities among the underserved, multiethnic populations in Hawaii. Thus, Ola HAWAII (Health And Wellness Achieved by Impacting Inequalities) will herald a new era of research excellence on the science of minority health and health disparities.
I am an expert deeply immersed in the realm of health disparities, particularly in the context of Hawaii and its diverse communities. My expertise spans the genetic, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions that contribute to health inequalities, and I am well-versed in the initiatives aimed at addressing these disparities. Allow me to draw upon my comprehensive knowledge to shed light on the concepts embedded in the provided article.
The focal point of the article revolves around the establishment of the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Specialized Center, named Ola HAWAII, with the primary objective of achieving health and wellness for the communities in Hawaii. "Ola" holds significance in Hawaiian, translating to "health" and "to heal." This nomenclature underscores the overarching goal of remedying health disparities within the region.
The proposed RCMI Specialized Center strategically positions its piko (center) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). This center is envisioned to be a collaborative hub involving various entities, including the College of Health Sciences and Social Welfare (CHSSW), which encompasses the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health (TSSWPH), the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH), and the UH Cancer Center (UHCC), among others.
The breadth of research activities spans basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research, encompassing the expertise of units such as the Department of Social Work (SW), Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS), Center on Aging (COA), College of Natural Sciences (CNS), and Pacific Biosciences Research Center (PBRC). These entities collectively contribute to a transdisciplinary approach, emphasizing collaboration and diverse perspectives in tackling the root causes of health disparities.
Crucial figures leading this initiative include the Dean of JABSOM, Jerris R. Hedges, MD, and the Former Dean of TSSWPH, Noreen Mokuau, DSW. Their leadership, in collaboration with a Program Director and Core Directors, is backed by impressive funding and publication records, reflecting a commitment to excellence in research. The emphasis on mentoring and career development further underscores their dedication to cultivating a robust workforce focused on health disparities.
The article introduces three strategic imperatives or aims that drive Ola HAWAII: developing transdisciplinary teams, conducting comprehensive research on the causes of health disparities, and identifying effective solutions to reduce these disparities among underserved, multiethnic populations in Hawaii. The inclusion of local Community-Based Organizations (CBO) in this collaborative effort emphasizes the importance of community engagement in the pursuit of health equity.
In essence, Ola HAWAII, through its acronym signifying "Health And Wellness Achieved by Impacting Inequalities," represents a pioneering initiative poised to usher in a new era of research excellence in the science of minority health and health disparities in Hawaii.
