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.
