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Benjamin Young, the first Native Hawaiian psychiatrist, has had a remarkable career that has helped diversify the field of medicine. Now at 85 years old, Young reflects on his journey and the impact he has made.

Young’s career began in 1972 when he started his residency at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. At that time, he was one of only a handful of Native Hawaiian-trained physicians. Recognizing the lack of diversity in medicine, the dean tasked Young with launching the Imi HoÔÇÿola program, aimed at increasing the representation of Pacific Islanders and other underrepresented groups in medicine. The program, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been instrumental in raising the number of Native Hawaiian physicians in Hawaii and across the country.

Young’s passion for encouraging others like him, individuals who faced barriers due to their socioeconomic backgrounds, led him on a mission to find talented students who thought they could never pursue a medical career. He visited middle schools, high schools, and colleges, meeting with counselors to identify bright students interested in medicine. Many of these students had low MCAT scores but only needed a review of pre-med classes to have a chance at medical school. Through his efforts, Young discovered students like Neal Palafox, who went on to become the chairman of family medicine and community health at the medical school, and Clayton Chong, the first Native Hawaiian oncologist.

Building a diverse pipeline of students in medicine meant overcoming various challenges. Young recognized that many talented individuals lacked the belief in themselves to pursue a medical profession. By drawing on the history of Hawaii, where different immigrant groups transformed their circumstances, Young motivated hesitant students. He shared stories of success that showed every group faced challenges but some were able to overcome them. One particular student, Chiyome Fukino, joined the program after Young met her father, who came to sell a vacuum cleaner. She graduated, became a medical doctor, and eventually served as the Director of Health for the state of Hawaii. Her brother also entered the program and became an ER physician.

Financial constraints were another major hurdle for underrepresented students. Young sought donations from companies in Hawaii to provide students with the financial support they needed. Companies like Eli Lilly and Lange, a medical textbook publisher, played instrumental roles in funding the program and providing resources for the students. These partnerships were crucial in making the program accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

While Young’s efforts were commendable, he faced additional complications due to legal restrictions on using race as a primary factor in admissions. In the aftermath of the landmark case involving Allan Bakke, who sued the University of California, Davis, in 1978, it became necessary to emphasize the inclusion of underrepresented groups rather than focusing solely on specific ethnicities. Despite these challenges, Young expanded the Imi HoÔÇÿola program to include the recruitment of women, who were also underrepresented in medicine at that time. By accepting clinical nurses, lab techs, and other women into the program, the number of female medical students increased.

Young’s commitment to diversity extended beyond ethnicity and gender. He believed in providing opportunities to those from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Through the Imi HoÔÇÿola program, he created pathways for individuals who had the ambition but lacked financial resources to pursue a medical career.

Looking back on his career, Young is proud of the impact he has made in diversifying medicine. He recognizes the importance of representation and believes that by increasing diversity in the field, healthcare can better address the needs of all communities. Young’s dedication to encouraging aspiring medical professionals, regardless of their background, has left a lasting legacy.

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