Faculty of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health (OB-GYN) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) are involved in nearly a third of the births in Hawai‘i each year. Many of these physicians practice medicine through the University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi (UHP), which is JABSOM’s faculty practice plan.
JABSOM UHP faculty made history Dec. 21, 2015, when they announced the largest philanthropic investment in JABSOM to date by faculty at their holiday celebration. Using its professional service collections, the team donated $500,000 to create an endowment. Today, the UH Board of Regents approved the Endowed Professorship in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.’
Ellis continued, “The creation of the Department of OB-GYN Professorship is an ideal collaboration between the department and the faculty practice plan. We know that this endowment will have great outcomes. It will help the department attract, support and retain talented faculty who will give back to Hawai‘i immeasurably. The endowment will also provide critical resources for faculty development and enhance the research, education, and community outreach missions of the department.”
JABSOM Dean Jerris Hedges said, “This is a very important gift for us. It is a powerful demonstration of how deeply the OB-GYN faculty believe in and support their department. They know that by investing in themselves they can do more to serve Hawai‘i’s families. A gift of this magnitude will help ensure the future success of the department.”
This gift comes on the heels of two other major philanthropic investments from Dr. Santosh Sharma and the Kosasa family.
“These gifts signal a growing recognition that private support is critical to ensuring long-term departmental success. We are most grateful to these important donors who are making such a difference for Hawai‘i,” Donna Vuchinich, president and CEO of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation said.
About University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi (UHP)
- University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi is the faculty practice plan of the John A. Burns School of Medicine and is aimed to support the educational, research and community service activities of JABSOM
- The practice plan includes several hundred participating physicians.
- UHP (formerly known as UCERA) among others provides OB-GYN coverage for multiple hospitals in Hawai‘i including Kapi‘olani Medical Center, Queen’s Medical Center and Pali Momi Medical Center.
- UHP physicians are on the front line every day, working hard to provide the best care to women facing complications and high-risk pregnancies. This dedicated group also provides essential services to many under-insured patients in Hawai‘i.
- In addition to directly serving Hawai‘i’s families, the UH Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women’s Health creates its clinical learning environment for medical students, residents & fellows through its UHP practice, giving students the robust real world experience they need.
To find out how you can support the students and programs at JABSOM, please contact Elaine Evans at (808) 692-0991 or elaine.evans@uhfoundation.org. You can also make a gift online at www.uhfoundation.org/givetojabsom