Chaminade University of Honolulu

Nursing & Health Professions

Chaminade in HOME RUN Initiative, Education Award for Healthcare Students

University to receive $5 million over five years for education awardds supporting healthcare professionals serving rural Hawaiʻi.

Chaminade University of Honolulu is participating in the statewide HOME RUN initiative, a major effort to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s healthcare workforce in rural and underserved communities through education awards, training and workforce development opportunities.

As part of the initiative, Chaminade will receive approximately $5 million over five years to support students pursuing graduate degrees in healthcare and behavioral health fields. The funding comes through Hawaiʻi’s Rural Health Transformation Program award, announced earlier this year by Governor Josh Green. The state received nearly $189 million in federal funding through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Rural Health Transformation Program to improve healthcare access and outcomes across rural Hawaiʻi.

HOME RUN — Hawaiʻi Outreach for Medical Education in Rural Under-resourced Neighborhoods — is designed to help recruit and retain healthcare professionals in communities facing workforce shortages. Students who receive HOME RUN education award support must commit to serving in a rural Hawaiʻi community for five years after completing their degree.

Students interested in receiving scholarship support should apply for the HOME RUN education award at the same time they apply for admission into an eligible Chaminade program.

Current eligible programs include (additional programs may be added in the near future):

  •   Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
  •   Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
  •   Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy
  •   Master of Science in Nursing
  •   Doctor of Nursing Practice
  •   Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
  •   Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology

“This initiative represents an important investment in Hawaiʻi’s future healthcare workforce and in the well-being of rural communities across our state,” said Lynn Babington. “Chaminade is proud to help prepare compassionate professionals who are committed to serving communities where access to healthcare and behavioral health services remains limited.”

According to the Governor’s Office, healthcare services in Hawaiʻi remain heavily concentrated on Oʻahu, leaving many rural residents with limited access to specialty care, behavioral health services and emergency treatment. The initiative seeks to address those challenges by building a stronger local workforce pipeline and supporting students committed to remaining in Hawaiʻi after graduation.

The initiative aligns closely with Chaminade’s mission of service and community engagement. Through graduate programs in nursing, counseling, marriage and family therapy, and educational psychology, the university prepares students to serve diverse communities throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

The HOME RUN initiative is one of six components included in the state’s five-year Rural Health Transformation Plan, which also includes investments in telehealth expansion, emergency response systems and healthcare infrastructure modernization.

Additional information about eligibility requirements and application timelines will be released as the initiative is implemented. For more information about Chaminade’s graduate healthcare and counseling programs, visit Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Hard Work Pays Off

At 19 years old in 2014, Jasmine-Kortney Young-Gusman ’26 began her journey in the health care field as a Medical Assistant and Technician at Straub Benioff Medical Center. After working there for nine years, she found out she was pregnant. The delivery was a harrowing experience for her. She needed an unmedicated, emergency cesarean section. During the surgery, a nurse stood by Young-Gusman, holding her hand, and ensuring she didn’t feel alone in the Operating Room.

“Having her [the nurse] there with me was a comfort in probably the scariest moment I’ve ever experienced,” Young-Gusman said. “After going through that I realized, I could be someone’s comfort and hold their hand and help them,” she explained.

That experience motivated her to apply to and start nursing school even with a ten-month-old son. 

“It took a lot for me to come back to school because I think if I didn’t go through that with my son, I would have just returned to my job,” Young-Gusman reflected. 

Her son is now four years old and will be cheering his mom on at Chaminade University’s Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at the Waikiki Shell on May 9. She is graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and receiving Latin honors. She was also selected for Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, which has criteria of a minimum 3.0 GPA and being within the top 35% of their graduating class.

Young-Gusman says her biggest struggle in the past four years was balancing being a present mom for her son while also ensuring that she was meeting her goals in school. 

“I had a lot of doubts even though I’m a very confident person and I know I’m smart and I’m capable. It took a lot of sleepless nights, crying and praying,” she said.

There were times she had to miss bed time with her son or was unable to go to his baseball games because she had clinical or needed to study. She said it was very draining but she kept in mind that the sacrifices were temporary. 

“It all paid off because not only am I graduating with my bachelors, I was the first person in my whole family to go to college so I’m a first generation,” Young-Gusman stated. 

Completing nursing school can be daunting. Young-Gusman couldn’t have done it without her support system.  

“I‘ve had professors that have been so loving and supportive,” she said. 

While working towards her degree, Young-Gusman did her nursing preceptorship in the ER. She says she thrives in the ER environment because it’s fast-paced, very demanding and she loves it. 

Young-Gusman has already started working on the next step in her career. She has accepted a job offer from The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oʻahu for the Emergency Technician position and will start soon. She hopes to transition to the Queen’s Hawai‘i Nurse Residency Program in September or January.

She says she’s made life-long friends through Chaminade University. Her advice to incoming students is to believe in yourself, find people that believe in you and hold onto them.

“I didn’t think I could do this, and I did and it’s only because I found the right people. I found the right friends and the right professors who rally behind me,” she said.

Nursing Students Receive National Award

Chaminade University’s Student Nurses Association has earned national recognition, receiving the 2026 Disaster Preparedness Award at the National Student Nurses Association annual conference in Houston, Texas. The honor celebrates an innovative community outreach project led by Chaminade nursing students that competed against programs from colleges and universities across the country.

The award-winning initiative focused on increasing emergency preparedness awareness for residents of Lānaʻi City through accessible, culturally responsive education tailored to the unique needs of the rural island community. As part of the project, Chaminade nursing students traveled from Oʻahu to Lānaʻi to participate in a community health fair, where they presented information on a variety of natural disasters that can affect Hawaiʻi, including flash floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Students also shared practical steps families can take to prepare and respond during emergencies.

The project was made possible through strong community partnerships. Chaminade students collaborated with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, which provided emergency preparedness packets for distribution to health fair attendees. Allyna Teppang ’26 also helped connect the student team with Kinaole, the company that organized the health fair and sponsored the students’ trip to Lānaʻi.

The initiative was conceived and led by seniors Junelle Tangalin ’26, Lyka Rose Corpuz ’26, Kelsey Nakagawa ’26, and junior Wendell Soriano ’27. Together, they developed a plan centered on promoting health equity and strengthening community resilience in an area with limited healthcare and emergency resources. Their work highlighted the importance of ensuring all communities—especially rural and neighbor island communities—have access to life-saving preparedness information.

In their project summary, the students emphasized that preparation can significantly reduce the impact of disasters and improve outcomes for individuals and families. They noted that proactive planning empowers people to respond more effectively when emergencies occur, even when circumstances are beyond their control. By tailoring educational materials specifically for the Lānaʻi community, the students ensured residents received relevant guidance and information about resources available on their island.

The national recognition reflects not only the students’ creativity and commitment, but also Chaminade University’s mission of educating servant leaders dedicated to making a difference in their communities. Through hands-on learning experiences like this, Chaminade students are applying their knowledge beyond the classroom while serving the people of Hawaiʻi with compassion and purpose.

Congratulations to these outstanding nursing students for representing Chaminade University on a national stage and demonstrating the power of service, leadership and community care.

Celebrating National Nutrition Month with Proclamation and Health Partners

Chaminade University brought together healthcare professionals, students, and community partners this evening on the steps of Clarence T.C. Ching Hall to celebrate National Nutrition Month and a formal proclamation issued by Gov. Josh Green recognizing the importance of nutrition in building healthier communities across Hawaiʻi.

The proclamation marked a collaborative moment between Chaminade University and local health leaders, including registered dietitians from across our state, nurses, and academic partners such as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Attendees participated in an official group photo highlighting the shared commitment to advancing nutrition education, prevention, and whole-person health.

In Hawaiʻi, health is something built  together. Nutrition is foundational to that effort, reflecting our shared values of connection, stewardship, and caring for our communities across generations. This proclamation not only recognizes the work being done across Hawaiʻi but also reinforces our responsibility to educate, collaborate, and serve our communities,” said Dr. Melissa Cline, Program Director of Nutrition and Dietetics and Assistant Professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

The event underscores Chaminade University’s continued leadership in developing future healthcare professionals through its Nutrition & Dietetics programs. With a focus on interdisciplinary education and community engagement, the university is expanding opportunities for students to enter high-impact fields that address chronic disease, health equity, and preventive care.

Chaminade also recently announced the addition of its B.S. in Nutrition degree program. The program will go beyond human nutrition and explore social impacts of food, sports nutrition, current diet trends, behavioral nutrition, food science, and sustainable food systems.

National Nutrition Month®, observed each March, is an annual campaign that promotes informed food choices and healthy eating habits. Chaminade’s recognition reflects its growing role in supporting Hawaiʻi’s health workforce and fostering partnerships that extend beyond the classroom.

The celebration concluded with informal networking among attendees, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in advancing public health initiatives across the islands.

Chaminade Partners with Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools

As part of an innovative new program aimed at bolstering community health, the School of Nursing and Health Professions has partnered with Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools to place doctoral nursing students on campuses for everything from everyday ailments to health education.

There are currently students at two campuses—and plans for expansion.

Linda Malone, DNP, an associate professor of nursing, said school-based health services are oftentimes an overlooked area of community-based care. But ensuring children are healthier—and making healthier choices—can have broad positive impacts on their schooling and lives.

“School-based health and school healthcare has long been proven to keep kids healthier,” Malone said. “And if you’re keeping them healthy, you’re keeping them in school.”

She added the pilot program, made possible thanks to Marianist Sponsorship Ministries Foundation grants, is especially focused on prevention messaging.

At St Joseph’s Parish School in Waipahu, Haylee Carlson, DNP ’27, put together a special health education newsletter for parents and health promotion presentations for students in third through eighth grades focusing on topics like healthy eating and exercise. At Our Lady Of Good Counsel School in Pearl City, Michelle Burns, DNP ’26, set up a tent to see students and also offered health education classes.

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Dr. Llewellyn Young, superintendent of Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools, said the initiative is filling a “critical gap” by providing regular on-site care on campuses that don’t have the resources to fund a school nurse.

“This pilot partnership is incredibly important to me because it directly supports the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our students,” Young said. “More importantly, it reflects the Catholic Church’s mission to serve the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.”

Young added that Chaminade doctoral students serving on the campuses not only give administrators and teachers peace of mind, but offer proactive education on wellness and even early identification of mental health needs. “Looking ahead, I hope to expand this partnership to more of our Catholic schools—especially those in underserved areas,” Young said.

“This is more than a healthcare initiative—it is a ministry of healing and accompaniment, and we are deeply grateful for Chaminade University’s shared commitment to this vision.”

Burns, who is at the Pearl City campus, said the program has given her a new appreciation of school-based care.

As a registered nurse, Burns evaluates students who are feeling ill or have been injured on campus. But the real highlight for Burns, who is in the pediatric nurse practitioner track in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, has been developing age-appropriate educational curricula covering everything from good sleep habits to calming techniques to hygiene.

“This partnership has shown me a different part of nursing that I haven’t been exposed to yet,” Burns said. “Starting up a health room takes a lot of planning. In addition to my nursing skills, I’ve learned how to create forms specifically for school health clinics, collaborate with school administration, and communicate with parents or guardians when needed.”

Carlson, also in the pediatric nurse practitioner track, said she jumped at the opportunity to contribute at the Waipahu school after hearing about the pilot from Malone.

“School health has always been an interest of mine, and I decided to go for it because it’s an excellent opportunity to give back to the community,” Carlson said. “Establishing health services will provide increased access to healthcare for children and help decrease sickness and absenteeism as a result.”

She added a highlight of the work, in addition to serving young students and providing health education programming, is working with undergraduate nursing students at Chaminade who are completing clinical hours at the Catholic schools. “This pilot has provided me the chance to solidify my assessment skills and get creative with healthcare in a school environment,” she said.

“We’re making a positive impact on these children and their families.”

This story appears in the Fall 2025 edition of Chaminade Magazine. To read the full issue, click here.

Chaminade to Launch New Nutrition Degree

Chaminade University will launch a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition program in Fall 2026, inviting students to delve deep into the science of health and wellness and then challenging them to apply their knowledge with hands-on projects that tackle public health challenges.

Pamela Smith, Ed.D., vice dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, called the Nutrition program a perfect complement to the University’s existing strengths in nursing and public health and said the addition will help create pathways to interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Nutrition plays a vital role in every stage of life and in every aspect of health,” Smith said.

“By combining rigorous coursework in biology, chemistry, and nutritional science with hands-on experiential learning, the new program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills to guide individuals, families, and communities toward healthier futures,” Smith said.

Students will explore areas such as food systems, cultural influences on diet, chronic disease prevention, and the relationship between nutrition and social determinants of health. Rooted in Chaminade’s service-focused mission, the program will also emphasize the importance of addressing social disparities in the Pacific through culturally responsive initiatives.

School of Nursing and Health Professions Dean Lorin Ramocki, DNP, said that the Nutrition major and minor will stress versatility, giving students the opportunity to pursue health topics and personal projects they’re interested in. “It’s absolutely a hands-on curriculum,” she said.

Ramocki added Nutrition students will work closely with those across the school, mimicking the interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals they would encounter in hospitals, not-for-profit organizations and elsewhere in community settings.

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“It’s pulling all those pieces together so we can prepare our workforce,” she said.

Smith noted that Chaminade is launching its Nutrition program as the demand for trained nutrition professionals continues to grow in the islands and nationwide. “When we’re talking about disease prevention and treatment, nutrition plays a key role,” she said.

Smith said in addition to a curriculum that stresses experiential learning and real-world application, students in the Nutrition program will benefit from personalized academic planning, faculty mentorship and opportunities to work with community partners.

“At its heart, the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition reflects Chaminade’s mission: to foster education that is transformative, community-oriented, and deeply rooted in the values of justice, peace, and service,” Smith said. “By integrating nutrition into its academic offerings, the university is nourishing not just bodies, but communities—and cultivating future leaders.”

There’s also a shortage of registered dietitians in Hawai’i, a role that requires a master’s degree. Chaminade University plans to begin offering a master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2027 so that students can further their studies and better Hawaii’s workforce needs.

Chaminade has applied to the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to open a program to prepare registered dietitian nutritionists in early 2027.

The University’s eligibility application was accepted by ACEND* and is in the candidacy process for a proposed Future Education Model Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. The program is not accepting applications at this time but will do so upon successful completion of the eligibility application process if the program receives candidacy for accreditation status from ACEND.

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) released the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for programs in nutrition and dietetics. These accreditation standards integrate didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning in a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future practice.

For more information on Chaminade’s candidacy, contact Smith at [email protected] or 808-735-4862.