Hawaiʻi is often ranked as one of the healthiest states, with health insurance coverage and life expectancy higher than national averages. However, there are significant challenges in the state’s health sector, including health disparities, especially among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; prevalent chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes; behavioral and oral health issues; a rapidly aging population; and health workforce shortages.
The University of Hawaiʻi System, through its 10 campuses, has many resources that can provide meaningful solutions to these challenges. UH has strong programs in health sciences, nursing, medicine, public health, social work, pharmacy, dental hygiene, cancer research and more. UH also has numerous successful units and programs that address health in social sciences, education, engineering, law, business, agriculture/nutrition and more.
UHealthy Hawaiʻi is a new initiative to leverage UH programs to improve health and healthcare in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. It is one of UH President David Lassner’s top initiatives and is led by Aimee Grace, a pediatrician with significant federal policy experience.
UHealthy Hawaiʻi was forged through numerous listening sessions across the UH System and focuses on four primary areas.
Read more at UH News: Initiative seeks to leverage UH System to improve health in Hawaiʻi, Pacific