Building a Culturally Aware Native Hawaiian Health Professions Workforce

Area of Science:

• Health Workforce Development
• Cultural Competency in Healthcare
• Native Hawaiian Health

Background:

• The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) aimed to cultivate a culturally competent health workforce for Native Hawaiians.
• NHHSP awarded 302 scholarships to 277 recipients across 12 disciplines, with 90% remaining in Hawai'i.
• In 2019, NHHSP initiated a transformation to expand its reach and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the evolution of NHHSP into Mauli Ola Mālamalama (MOM), a health workforce development center.
• To qualitatively assess alumni experiences within the transformed program.
• To understand the meaning and impact of the program on recipients serving Native Hawaiian communities.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative assessment utilizing surveys and interviews with program alumni.
• Exploration of alumni work experiences, challenges, solutions, and mentorship.
• Analysis of the program's impact on service in rural communities and legacy.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged from alumni feedback: awareness, passion, inherent culture, reciprocity, and legacy.
• The overarching theme of 'aloha' was identified, reflecting a deep commitment to serving Native Hawaiian communities.
• The transformation to MOM embedded core values of suitability, commitment, and leadership into program support.

Conclusions:

• The rebranding to Mauli Ola Ola Mālamalama (MOM) signifies a strategic shift towards comprehensive health workforce development.
• The program successfully fosters culturally aware health professionals dedicated to serving Native Hawaiian communities.
• This enhanced vision aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiians in healthcare roles, addressing critical health disparities.