JABSOM Journeys's Podcast

In friendships, sometimes opposites attract, but other times the similarities are what draw people together. Scott Nishioka and Krystin Wong have been besties since the 6th grade, and it's clear to see why. They're both high achieving and exceedingly humble but will hype each other up to the point of embarrassment. Join us as they discuss their parallel trajectories from Punahou to college on the mainland before finally reuniting at JABSOM.

When entering medical school, it can help to know that everyone starts from the same place, uncertain and unprepared. That is, of course, unless you are like Steph Lum who applied to medical school while working as an ICU nurse in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Join us as she shares her experiences from that tumultuous time and offers her unique perspective on the relationship between nursing and medical school. 

He's just a small town boy, born and raised in south Kona. He took the midnight train to JABSOM and now he's here sharing his amazing story. Be prepared to laugh, and maybe even cry, as Derek discusses adjusting to life on Oahu, healing through trauma, and the underappreciated virtue of not trying. Also, be sure to listen to the end for one of Derek's signature cheehoos.*Contains discussion of sensitive topics including addiction and suicide*

For many medical students, the first day of school is one that we'll never forget. For Jordan, it was the second. That was the day he found out that his wife was pregnant and that his life was about to drastically change. Join us as Jordan shares his unique, funny, and deeply insightful perspective on everything from the MCAT to taking gap years. Find out why a Chinese linguist in the military decided to pursue a career in medicine and how a classic TV show influenced his decision. 

You've heard of Doogie Kamealoha, but we've got our very own Ryan Nguyen. Join us as we sit down with our friend and fellow first-year Ryan, as he tells us about how he got into medical school at just 16 years old. Inspired by his dad to find his own opportunities, and fueled by a bit of brotherly competition, Ryan accomplished what Disney has written out as fiction. From vog research, to ED shadowing, to making the school dances, Ryan tells us about how he managed his well-rounded and accelerated path to JABSOM. We discuss with him what he has learned along the way, and how he has changed his study habits in medical school. He also tells us about his manga, vocaloid music, and the familiar instrument that he plays (you'll never guess). Like his favorite genre, we hope this episode gives you a “slice of life” into the classmate we know as the man, the myth, the (16 year old) legend, Ryan Nguyen.

Welcome our new hosts for JABSOM Journey's. Andie, Carly, Jason, Jonathan, and Kameron are excited to share their experiences from getting into medical school to what it's like finally being at JABSOM. 

Coming to us all the way from Irvine, California, we have Kayti Luu as this episode's guest! She talks about her childhood, which was rooted in her strong Asian heritage, and how experiences in the hospital affirmed her desire to go into medicine. We discuss the infamous premed obstacle that is the MCAT and how she worked to overcome it. With a strong desire to train local physicians, JABSOM typically has only around 10 out-of-state matriculants every year – Kayti  brings an interesting perspective to JABSOM Journeys as our first out-of-state guest and sheds light on her experiences adjusting to JABSOM and life in Hawaii. 

Maveric Abella's journey is all about connections forged and nurtured through earnest inquiry and compassion. Growing up on the west side of Oahu, she made her way to Kamehameha Schools and eventually attended Columbia. Yet even as The City blocked out the sky, she never lost sight of her roots. She pursued a major she was passionate about, found support in a family of friends and mentors who guided her through the pre-med process, and elevated her research by grounding it in a population-centered approach. In this episode, Anna and I are amazed at Maveric's accomplishments and ability to put aside time for fun. We also explore the challenges and rewards of pursuing an atypical pre-med major, discuss the importance of being Native Hawaiian in medicine, and discover an amazing organization Maveric founded to mentor students interested in STEM.

Landon Morikawa has done his fair share of traveling as he completed a B.S. in Cellular & Molecular Biology with a minor in Finance at Seattle University, excelled in a post-baccalaureate program in Chicago, and conducted research back home in Hawaiʻi. We discussed how an “uncompetitive” 3.6 GPA did not stop Landon from making it into medical school– experiences, determination, and embracing the grind matter too. In this episode, we share helpful tips on finding research opportunities, navigating possible post-baccalaureate programs, and staying true to yourself when applying to medical school.

Bradley “Brad” Thomas is a husband and father who came a long way to get to JABSOM. After high school, he didn't know what he wanted to pursue. During his first year of college he received non-passing grades and was academically suspended. He applied to medical school with a MCAT score in the 96th percentile and a cumulative GPA above a 3.5. In this episode, we find out how Brad was able to overcome an academic setback and talk about his far from ordinary experiences in his non-traditional path to JABSOM which include his time in the army, being a paramedic, and doing malaria research in Africa. We also discuss a relevant and important topic that applies to more than 50% of applicants - reapplying to medical school. Finally, we close this episode by talking about Brad's experience with starting medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some paths are straight and narrow, others are odyssian-epic in scope: branching, exploratory, wide reaching and ultimately fulfilling. In this episode, Peggy Su describes her journey to medical school, stopping along the way to explore optometry, Seoul and Public Health before joining the ‘Imi Ho‘ōla Post-Baccalaureate program and the JABSOM Ohana. Peggy's road is paved with resilience, exploration and courage and hopefully can be an inspiration for any student, on any path.  

Today's episode features Anna Gragas, a first-year medical student at JABSOM. Anna walks us through how she became interested in medicine, her unique experiences in a rural setting, and the benefits of having mentors and support groups. She also discusses her experience and challenges with taking the MCAT and with the application process as a Maui resident. Finally, Anna discusses her passion for her community and wraps up with valuable advice for pre-medical students. 

Today's episode features special guest Erica Shin, a first-year medical student here at JABSOM. Erica discusses her time at UH Mānoa, highlighting her decision to stay home for college and med school, and some of the activities she did in undergrad. We also talk through her journey with MCAT prep, the application process, and scribing as well as her experience in med school during the age of COVID-19. Come along for the ride and take a listen.

Welcome to JABSOM Journeys! We're so excited to start this podcast and highlight the unique journeys of our classmates. Listen to this short episode to meet the JABSOM Journeys' hosts and get to know a little more about them, their own journeys, and the reasons behind creating this podcast series.