PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal seeks external funding for a recently launched internship program for Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander (NHPI) undergraduate students interested in a biomedical career related to improving kidney
health. Our program, named the Haumana 'O Pasifika program by our inaugural class of 8 Haumana (Hawaiian
for "student") Scholars, aims to help outstanding NHPI undergraduates achieve their goals of becoming the
next generation of nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and scientists by provide research experience,
clinical exposure, career development, and community outreach over the course of a 12-week summer program.
NHPI face significant health disparities. These include chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, obesity, infant
mortality, Alzheimer's Disease, and renal cancer. The lack of NHPI representation in health professions
contributes, in part, to health disparities observed in these communities. End stage renal disease (ESRD) is
the most illustrative example of a health disparity in NHPI communities. As compared to Americans who
identify as White, the incidence rates of ESRD are 3-fold higher in African Americans and 8.4-fold higher for
Pacific Islanders. Diabetes is the most common cause of ESRD in NHPI, with incident rates nearly double
those of African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans, populations that are widely known to be at elevated
risk for diabetes. Eliminating diabetes and kidney health disparities among NHPI are established goals of the
NHPI community. Our community leaders have defined a significant need to increase NHPI representation in
the biomedical workforce as a critical step in eliminating such health disparities. Indeed, while 1.9% of Utahns
are NHPI, only 3 of our >1,400 board-certified physicians at the University of Utah (U of U) self-identify as
NHPI.
With overwhelming support from U of U administration, colleagues, and community leaders, we created
and implemented the Haumana 'O Pasifika Program, a 12-week summer research internship which provides: i)
hands-on research experience (basic, clinical, and translational) with established scientists; ii) professional and
career development; iii) clinical shadowing; iv) cultural mentoring; and v) community outreach. With NIH
support, we aim to continue annual research experiences and educational training in kidney disease (with an
emphasis on diabetes-related kidney disease) through the Haumana ‘O Pasifika Program. We will: 1) Execute
a summer research internship centered on kidney health for NHPI undergraduates that includes
comprehensive and life-long academic, career, and educational support through mentored research and the
development of a strong, supportive cohort experience; 2) Engage Haumana 'O Pasifika Scholars in outreach
with Utah's vibrant NHPI community; and 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the Haumana 'O Pasifika Program
on increasing NHPI representation in STEM careers and the nephrology-related biomedical workforce.