$10M gift helps address Kaua‘i physician shortage

In March 2022, JABSOM announced a six-year, $10 million commitment from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg to fund the new Kaua‘i Medical Training Track. The funding aims to build a stronger on-island medical community and improve access to healthcare services.

Here’s how it works. Six JABSOM students with ties to Kaua‘i, another neighbor island, or who have a strong interest in rural health will be accepted into the Kaua‘i Medical Training Track annually. The program will cover students’ tuition, fees, transportation, and lodging for all four years.

Students who complete the program will have a “work commitment.” Once they finish residency, they must return to Kaua‘i for at least four years to practice as independent physicians, thus contributing to closing the physician shortage gap. While there is no mandatory specialty they have to go into, primary care is encouraged because that’s the greatest need in underserved areas.

The first cohort from JABSOM’s Class of 2026 began training on the Garden Isle in the fall. Ultimately, JABSOM hopes to expand this program to other neighbor islands.

“I am excited to learn alongside a group of bright and compassionate students who also have the common goal of learning from and caring for the people of rural Hawai‘i,” said Jamie Emoto (JABSOM MD 2026 candidate).

Chan and Zuckerberg added, “Expanding the medical community will help improve access to healthcare services for local residents — which is crucial to building a healthier community on Kaua‘i. We’re honored to support the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawai‘i as they strive to address the physician shortage by creating a more robust pathway for future doctors.”