A recent announcement reveals a positive trend for Hawai'i's healthcare sector: a growing number of graduates from the University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) are choosing to stay in the state for residency training. This year, approximately 41% of the graduating class will remain in Hawai'i, which is a significant increase of 10 percentage points from the previous year. This surge offers a glimmer of hope in addressing the ongoing physician shortage plaguing the islands.
The JABSOM program attracts over 2,000 applicants annually for just 77 spots, as reported by Hawaii Public Radio. Furthermore, local students make up a majority of the class (90%) and benefit from in-state tuition rates, making it more accessible for them to pursue their medical education. However, despite this, the high cost of living, particularly housing, and the burden of student loan debt often dissuade graduates from remaining in Hawai'i for their residency and beyond.
The physician shortage in Hawai'i has been described as a
