Chaminade University of Honolulu

Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research

Doctor’s Orders

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Laica Arcibal enters first year of residency at SIU

She will be the first to concede that becoming a physician is both a privilege and a responsibility. And for Laica Arcibal ’19, attending medical school meant being one step closer to achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a practicing physician. Now in her first-year residency at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine in Quincy, Ill., the Waianae native earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) in the spring.

“Chaminade provided the foundation to my medical career,” Arcibal said. “I am especially thankful to OHPAUR (Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research, now known as the Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs) for the opportunity to widen my exposure to different healthcare careers.”

Despite an interest in research when she was in high school and during her first two years at Chaminade, Arcibal decided to pursue a medical degree instead. After shadowing a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, she witnessed how osteopathic manipulation treatment could alleviate people’s pain almost immediately.

Laica Arcibal informed Dr. Amber Noguchi that she started her residency.

“I shadowed a DO who was able to provide some relief to a patient with a persistent cough, and saw how appreciative the patient was,” Arcibal recalled. “That was when I told myself, ‘I want to be a DO.’”

Thanks to an articulation agreement that Chaminade enjoys with A.T. Still University, Arcibal was allowed early admission to the Kirksville College of Osteopathic, her school of preference since, she said, it felt just like Chaminade.

“I knew medical school would be grueling, so I wanted a place to safely challenge myself, and ATSU-KCOM reminded me of my experience in Chaminade,” Arcibal said. “I also like the fact that ATSU focuses on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity and underserved populations, which Waianae is.”

 At its essence, an Articulation Agreement document is between two colleges or universities, and lays out a transfer plan between two program offerings. Depending on the program and degree, students can set an early course to advanced studies as an undergraduate—establishing a strong academic record and completing prerequisites while at Chaminade. The agreement helps the student by ensuring all completed classes (credits) transfer and shows a clear pathway for continued advancement.

“Laica was one of my students from when I worked at Waianae High School as a pre-college advisor,” said Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., Chaminade’s Program Director with the Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs. “I first met her when she was a high school sophomore so it has been really great seeing her progress throughout this past decade.”

Arcibal decided to become a DO because she believes that DOs bring a unique, patient-centered approach to every specialty across the full spectrum of medicine. She also appreciates the University’s curriculum, which aligns with the Marianist values she learned while at Chaminade.

Laica Arcibal, second from left, with former classmates on a field trip with Dr. Hank Trapido-Rosenthal.

The Complete Doctor, a hallmark of the KCOM curriculum, incorporates early clinical experiences with didactic study in physical exam skills, communication skills, social determinants of health, spirituality in medicine, medical jurisprudence and ethics. Reflecting the osteopathic philosophy, the curriculum also emphasizes preventive medicine and holistic patient care.

“DOs bring a whole-person approach to care by focusing on looking beyond patients’ symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors impact their wellbeing,” said Arcibal, citing the Kirksville College of Osteopathic’s program description. “The osteopathic philosophy of medicine sees an inter-related unity in all systems of the body, with each working with the other to heal in times of illness.

“As part of their education, DOs receive special training in the musculoskeletal system, your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones,” Arcibal further cited. “By combining this knowledge with the latest advances in medical technology, they offer patients the most comprehensive care available today.”

As a SIU School of Medicine Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) resident, Arcibal has many years before she completes her residency training, qualifies to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE board exam), and then becomes a fully credentialed doctor.

When she does graduate to Dr. Arcibal—and no longer a doctor-in-training after finishing medical school—she plans to return to Waianae to serve her community.

“I would not have gotten this far without my supportive family, friends and mentors, who for some, I met way back in high school,” Arcibal said. “It is only right that I come back and serve the very people who motivated me to get this far.”

Summer Research Opportunities

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La‘a Gamiao ’25 hopes to get a head start on his master’s degree at Purdue University, where he wants to eventually pursue a doctorate in ecology. His first step toward this goal was to accept an eight-week, Undergraduate Summer Research Program at Purdue’s flagship campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Laa Gamiao is participating in a research program at Purdue.
La’a Gamiao was accepted accepted to an eight-week, Undergraduate Summer Research Program at Purdue’s flagship campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.

“I leave on June 2 and I have orientation on June 4,” said Gamiao, who will be among the five student-research participants from across the country. “I’ll be conducting research on Aquatic Ecology, studying predator-and-prey interactions in response to chemicals.”

Gamiao is among a group of Chaminade students who have been able to kick-start their graduate studies, thanks to agreements between Chaminade University and fellow esteemed institutions of higher education.

“Chaminade is a member of The Leadership Alliance, a consortium of 32 academic institutions dedicated to addressing the shortage of diversity in graduate schools and academia,” said Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., Chaminade’s Program Director with the Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs. “Through the program, we’ve built partnerships with universities that want to admit our students into their summer research programs.”

In the past, Chaminade students have participated in programs at Harvard, Yale, Purdue and UCLA—to name just a few. This early exposure to research is invaluable and greatly enhances a student’s graduate school application, particularly for medical schools.

This summer, Alexandra Boyce and Kaila Frank will both participate in Michigan State University’s Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). According to the MSU website, the SROP is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP also helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities. Boyce and Frank also plan to take short courses in various subjects prior to the start of the research portion of the program.

“We also have at least one student, Tia Skaggs, who will be participating in the Cancer Research Experience for Undergraduates (CREU) program at the University of Colorado Anschutz,” Noguchi said. “This program is focused on projects related to cancer, whereas Purdue and MSU offer a wide range of disciplines and faculty expertise.”

Amber Noguchi, Chaminade’s Program Director with the Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs, encourages students to participate in summer research programs at various universities.

CREU’s primary goal is to engage scientific curiosity in the next generation of scientists, challenging qualified college undergraduates to consider a cancer-related career in the future. Only 23 college undergraduate students have been selected to spend 10 weeks in the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’ laboratories.

“Our office encourages students to apply for experiential opportunities like summer research both here at Chaminade and at other institutions,” Noguchi said. “We also encourage our pre-health students to apply for clinical experiences and also pre-health enrichment programs.”

This summer, two pre-health juniors were accepted to the Summer Health Professions Education Program: Joshua Dumas ’24, a pre-med student, who will be attending the UCLA program; and Alexis Martinez ’24, an aspiring dentist, who has a choice between UCLA and Western University of Health Sciences.

To expose students to clinical experience, Chaminade works with the COPE Health Scholars Program at Adventist Castle. Through COPE, students are able to gain 280 clinical hours by volunteering in various departments at the hospital. Students enrolled in healthcare programs require these hours to demonstrate that they understand the field they plan to pursue, and it also helps them be competitive applicants when they actually apply.

“Many Chaminade students—who have pursued health careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, nursing and others—have participated in COPE,” Noguchi said. “We currently have Kelsey Nakagawa ’23, a nursing major, who started the program last year, and has risen to a leadership position there. We also have Kobe Young ’23, a recent Biochemistry graduate, who will be starting this summer.”

Pathway to Success

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Articulation Agreements help advance careers in healthcare

A 2018 alumnus, Hyo Park graduated with his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University earlier this month. And he credits Chaminade with helping him get there. Thanks to the university’s Articulation Agreement program with The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Park was able to secure an early admission spot at the institution. And he recently learned that his first choice of residency at Hilo Medical Center (HMC) was approved. He will start later this summer.

“While at Chaminade, I learned the importance of dedicating myself to something greater than my personal ambitions—through service,” said Park, who attributed his successes to the connections, mentorships and support he received from the university. “I’m happy to return to Hawaii to serve the community.”

At its essence, an Articulation Agreement document is between two colleges or universities, and lays out a transfer plan between two program offerings. Depending on the program and degree, students can set an early course to advanced studies as an undergraduate—establishing a strong academic record and completing prerequisites while at Chaminade. The agreement helps the student by ensuring all completed classes (credits) transfer and shows a clear pathway for continued advancement.

Amber Noguchi met with Dr. Hyo Park while visiting Washington, D.C.

“Each agreement differs by institution, as well as degree,” explained Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., Chaminade’s Program Director with the Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs. “And each agreement represents a binding legal contract between the universities.”

Students who want to take advantage of participating in an Articulation Agreement, for example with Boston University or George Washington University, should apply in January of their sophomore year. “This timeline avoids any gap year between undergraduate and graduate programs,” Noguchi noted. “They would learn of their acceptance by April, and invited to take summer courses after their sophomore year. They would return to Chaminade for their junior year and then move to Boston for their senior year.”

Articulation Agreements streamline the transfer process for everyone involved. This will help alleviate the stress surrounding the application process, the credit transfer process and several other issues students might encounter when applying to a graduate program. By simplifying this process with transfer agreements, it is beneficial to all parties involved. 

In an editorial that she wrote for the Hawaii Dental Association Journal, Dr. Nora K. Harmsen shared Chaminade’s Healthcare Articulation Agreement Programs with her fellow dentists, citing that she was interested in the programs because many times her patients or staff members would discuss their goals of becoming a hygienist, dentist, occupational therapist or pharmacist.

“Chaminade University’s pre-professional program places students on a path that will lead them to a position in one of the much-needed healthcare fields here in Hawaii,” Harmsen wrote. “The student works with the profession’s counselors, and follows the required curriculum and requirements to graduate from Chaminade. They will then apply to one of the graduate programs, following the requirements for the program’s application process, which may include an interview and required GPA or DAT, MCAT, etc.

“As a result, these students will be on a direct path to the program of their choice, at one of the Programs with which Chaminade has a current Articulation Agreement,” Harmsen further noted. “Using this plan, the student does not have to apply to multiple programs to achieve their vocational dreams. I am always skeptical about the ‘too-good-to-be-true’ programs or ideas, but Chaminade has multiple graduates from these programs who have come back to encourage other students to use this plan for their future.”

Chaminade currently has Articulation Agreements with 11 different healthcare graduate schools across the nation, including A.T. Still University, Boston University, George Washington University, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts, University of Dayton and Western University. A recent contract with St. Mary’s University School of Law marks the first Articulation Agreement outside of the medical field.

“Since our pre-health program was established in 2010, we’ve seen tremendous growth,” Noguchi said. “Forty percent of our students, who apply to a health professional program, now do so with one of our 11 Articulation Agreements.”

Student’s Summer Research at Johns Hopkins University Earns Award

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Chloe Talana and fellow students

Chaminade junior Chloe Talana was one of eight students out of 103 to be named best poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students on November 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Talana studied blood samples from HIV infected individuals to document how their immune cells function as part of a summer research program at Johns Hopkins University. She first presented her research at the Leadership Alliance symposium in Connecticut and was invited to present her research again at the recent conference in Indianapolis. She attended the national conference with six other Chaminade students, three of whom also presented their research.

“I could never be more grateful to be part of that conference,” says Talana.  “I wasn’t even sure if I was actually going, but then I was fortunate enough to receive a full travel award from the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research. I was surrounded by bright people with the same passions, the same drive that want to do something good in STEM. I felt at home, especially since this is really what I want to do.”

Chloe Talana

Talana attributes her award to her ability to seize opportunities and the support she’s received from Chaminade professor Dr. Michael Weichhaus. Talana joined Dr. Weichhaus’s lab as a student researcher after she approached him after class one day and asked if he knew of any research opportunities.

“Opportunities don’t just fall into your lap nowadays, you have to take the initiative,” says Talana. “I took the initiative to approach Dr. Weichhaus, and now he’s my mentor and my advisor. He really takes the time to help me understand things, and he really listens. His mentorship has helped me evaluate what I want to do, what I can do and what I should do more.”

Dr. Weichhaus has encouraged Talana to pursue research opportunities outside of his lab, including the Johns Hopkins program. His mentorship has made such an impact on Talana’s experience as a student that earlier this year she nominated him for the President Mackey Prize, which he was awarded at the Na Liko Na’auao undergraduate conference at Chaminade University in March.

“Since I have started working with him, Dr. Weichhaus has validated what I want to do with my future,” says Talana. “A lot of people say doctor’s save lives, and they absolutely do. But if we really think about it, it all comes down to research. Without research, we wouldn’t have advances in medicine. I want to go to medical school to get a combined M.D. and Ph.D. and become a medical scientist.”

Na Liko Na’auao, Celebrating Student Scholars

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Established in 2002, Na Liko Na’auao is an undergraduate conference which celebrates student scholars from across all academic disciplines.

Hosted by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research, students participating in the conference deliver academic presentations showcasing a project from the past year through oral and/or visual presentations. A conference which celebrates all student scholars, students may present research projects as well as creative work in both visual and performing arts.

During this year’s event, President Dr. Lynn Babington, defined a scholar as “A person with a desire to pursue and learn new things; a person on a quest for knowledge and a dedication to learning.” By not focusing on one academic discipline Na Liko Na’auao gives all student scholars an opportunity to present their work in a formal setting and receive feedback from both faculty and other scholars within their field.

Projects presented at this year’s conference covered a wide range of academic disciplines and topics. Some of the presentations included “Zombie Transformable Safe House” by Helen Oclinaria, “Loving the Idea of Her: Fincher’s Feminist Film” by Madison McNamara, “Psychological Disorders as Grounds for Mitigation in Criminal Sentencing” by Michael Junker, and “Hawaiian Healing and Healers” by Cong Nguyen, Claire Hermosura, Haylee Bennett, Laura Hufano-Kravetz and Diamond Carter. The conference allows both individual and group projects to be presented.

Every year, after all the student scholars have presented their work, Na Liko Na’auao concludes with a presentation of certificates and awards. Given annually, the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognizes and encourages student scholarship.  The President Sue Wesselkamper Prize represents and helps build the tradition of the Na Liko Na’auao student conference.

In order to qualify for the prize a student must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, show scholarship beyond classroom requirements by undertaking their own independent research or study, and must have presented their work both on and off campus. Students must have a record of community service and hold leadership roles at the university.

Jarresa Kiyoko Harris was this year’s recipient of the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize. As a community volunteer and multi-cultural leader on campus, Harris was recognized for her outstanding work both on and off campus. During this year’s conference she presented her study “Exploring the Zone of Uncertainty Between Friendship and Romantic Relationships in Undergraduate Students.” She also presented this study at the 2018 National Council on Undergraduate Research in Oklahoma and Chaminade University’s 4th Annual Psychology Students Research Conference.

The President Sue Wesselkamper Prize was not only created to recognize outstanding student scholars, but the faculty members that mentor and guide the students here at Chaminade. “It’s about the close relationship between our faculty and our students both in the classroom and, judging from this wonderful work, outside the classroom,” said Babington. This relationship is part of the foundation at Chaminade University.

This year’s President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognized Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo. Dr Washburn-Repollo nominated Harris and mentored her throughout her years at Chaminade University.

Honoring the close student faculty relationships formed at Chaminade, the President Mackey Prize is an annual award presented to an outstanding faculty mentor, nominated by a student participating at the conference.

Nominated by Chole Adrienna Talana, this year’s President Mackey Prize was awarded to Dr. Michael Weichhaus. In her nomination submission Talana wrote, “Dr Weichhaus is an outstanding professor and mentor. He is a true educator who exemplifies a high level of commitment to teaching. Not only is he a good source of knowledge, he is very passionate in guiding students towards their career aspirations.

A World of Opportunity

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Nerisa Taua doesn’t believe in waiting for opportunity to come knocking, it’s time wasted. Instead, she hunts it down.

Taua – who will graduate from Chaminade University in May with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies – has knocked on a few of opportunity’s doors during the past four years.

On the academic front, she found her true passion through Chaminade’s Summer Research Program. While other students soaked up the sun, Taua spend her summer at Purdue University collaborating with experts in the university’s bat lab. Alongside Associate Professor of Wildlife Science Patrick Zollner – who became one of her mentors – she was able to get up close and personal with long-eared bats. Using acoustic monitors and echolocation, her research involved finding efficient and cost-effective ways to capture the animals.

With graduation on the horizon, Taua dreams of returning home to American Samoa to research the fruit bat, one of the country’s few native mammals. But before she does, there’s another stop on her journey before she returns.

She’ll be making a round trip back to Purdue University to further pursue her newly found passion at the graduate level, seeking a master’s degree in the Wildlife Science program, and continue working with Zollner and his team.

Paying for graduate school is never easy, but the cost for Taua isn’t a factor. Again seeking out opportunity, she found the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership grant and applied for its scholarship program. Taua was accepted, she is now a Sloan Scholar.

“I was beyond excited,” she says. “This was another step closer to opening a pathway for my people. As a Samoan, this is such a huge opportunity. The first thing that came to mind was ‘if I can do it, anyone from American Samoa can do better.’”

Although she’s been busy with her studies during her time at Chaminade, Taua has kept her culture alive in her heart and shared it with other through her experiences performing with her brothers and sisters of Lumana’i O Samoa.

There’s been personal growth as well and Taua says she’s grown immensely during her time at Chaminade. She now considers herself to be better at public speaking, more social, open-minded, approachable and professional.

A PERSONAL CHEERING SQUAD

It takes a village – and an enthusiastic cheering squad – to raise a child and Taua found hers since arriving in Honolulu four years ago. She’s has a team of dedicated and caring professors, advisors and staff encouraging her success and guiding her to individualized opportunities.

“I’ve received help from a lot of mentors who guided me toward a passion I didn’t know existed,” she says. “Their encouragement and belief in me is what motivated me to set and accomplish goals. Without mentorship, I would probably be lost and still searching for the next step to a brighter future.”

Taua leaves Chaminade with many great memories. She says she’s humbled and honored with the opportunities she’s been provided and that she’s proud to represent her home, family and those who’ve helped her along the way. Now she wants to give back to others as a mentor to help them grow and succeed in the ways she did. She especially wants to channel her energy toward the youth in America Samoa.

When Taua leaves Chaminade with her degree in hand, she’ll take with her a world of experience and lessons. She’s built a solid foundation at Chaminade and this is just the beginning.

The Environmental Studies minor offered by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics focuses on policy and environmental law to prepare students for careers in environmental science, ecology and conservation biology.

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research (OHPAUR) assists students interested in healthcare careers, regardless of their major. Services include: advising, test preparation, summer programs, guest speaker presentations, professional seminars, community service activities and internship/shadowing opportunities. OHPAUR also maintains articulation agreements with four ATSU campuses, as well as Boston University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Dayton and Western University School of Health Sciences.