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Hwang, freshman at UC Davis. Photo by TISHA=20 WOYTENKO |
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Kaimuki Symposium Inspires = Future=20 Physicians by=20
TISHA WOYTENKO Graphic images of facial reconstruction, skin graphs, = open eye=20 surgery, and more were exhibited on slide show presentations to = young=20 pupils aspiring to the medical profession at this year's medical=20 symposium. Over 50 students from public and private schools from = across=20 the state were invited to attend the 3rd Annual Hawaii Future = Physicians=20 Symposium on September 15 at 3660 On The Rise. Eight Hawaii = doctors=20 volunteer to speak every year to educate and inspire high school = students=20 to consider applying their personalities to various fields of=20 medicine. Aside from graphic images that made the students = cringe=20 at times, all of the doctors had encouraging advice and wisdom for = these=20 future doctors. Many stressed doing well in the first year of = college and=20 not "goofing off" as is the tendency for freshmen, and not to lock = their=20 interests into a field until they have gone through medical = school.=20 Associate director of H.M.S.A. and Varsity School's Basketball = Coach, Dr.=20 Mark Mugishi, urged the students that "there are many diverse = fields of=20 studies and specialties. Either you can dive into one area of = interest or=20 be diverse in a whole bunch of things." Naturally, he also = supported=20 involvement in a team sport as a way to learn skills applicable to = any=20 career. Each doctor shared the joy and realities of their = field and=20 how their personalities are critical to doing their job. Sponsor = and=20 ophthalmologist John Olkowski, M.D. of EyeSight Hawaii Vision = Institute,=20 shared that his affinity for math and meticulousness is required = when=20 working on such a small organ as the eye. "When I look through the = microscope," says Dr. Olkowski, "nothing else matters." He is = literally a=20 man of vision as he provides young people every year with the = tools to=20 make this leap into various rewarding careers at the symposium. = Former=20 Chief of the Emergency Department at Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Tina = Olkowski,=20 had worked in the inner-city emergency rooms of Detroit in the = '90s.=20 Having seen many forms of trauma and saved many from the brink of = death,=20 she says, "Everyone wants to save lives but you must realize that = some=20 deaths are inevitable." As one of the judges for the annual $500=20 scholarship essay, she noted that students needed to know that the = whole=20 realm of medicine also includes the right to a peaceful death as = well as=20 healing medicine. Guest speakers included Whitney Limm, MD; = Martin=20 Piette, MD; Don Parsa, MD; Kevin Mott, MD; Henry Louie, MD; Mark = Mugishi,=20 MD; Tina Olkowski, MD; and John Olkowski, MD. Current MS4 medical=20 students, Cindy Ta, Knewton Sakata and Christian Kikuchi, also = shared the=20 processes necessary to complete schooling. This year's winner of = the $500=20 scholarship was Kacie Fox, a junior at Punahou School. If = you would=20 like more information about this symposium, contact The EyeSight = Hawaii=20 Vision Institute Director of Public Relations Lori Downes at (808) = 735-1935 or visit their website at | ||||||