In Hawaiʻi, we talk a lot about “taking care of our own.” But in the world of neurosurgery, that’s becoming harder to do. For years, our islands have faced a shrinking pool of specialists, forcing families in remote areas to deal with long wait times or expensive flights just to get the care they need.

When Dr. Thomas Noh, our co-founder here at Excel Health, returned home to practice and teach at JABSOM, he saw the writing on the wall. The current generation of surgeons was nearing retirement, and for seven years, not a single new neurosurgeon from JABSOM had started practicing in the islands.

Dr. Noh knew that if we didn’t change the way we recruit and mentor local students, the shortage would soon become a crisis.

More Than Just Medicine: It’s About Mentorship

For Dr. Noh, the solution wasn’t just about finding more doctors—it was about finding local doctors.

“Hawaiʻi’s superpower is that we have incredibly bright, motivated students who want to make this their home,” Dr. Noh says. “If we can connect them with the right opportunities, they’ll want to build their careers here.”

He’s been putting in the work to make that happen by:

• Opening the OR Doors: Bringing students into his surgical rotations so they can see the impact of this work firsthand.
• Leading Local Research: Partnering with students on high-level projects, like his award-winning study on pediatric head trauma.
• Breaking Barriers: Actively mentoring women and Native Hawaiian students to ensure the future of neurosurgery looks like the community it serves.

Seeing the Impact

We’re already seeing the fruits of this effort. Take Janette Bow-Keola, a JABSOM student who once felt like an “outsider” in the field. Under Dr. Noh’s guidance, she’s found the confidence to pursue neurosurgery with a focus on addressing health disparities in the Native Hawaiian community.

Then there’s Dr. Andie Conching, who recently made history as the first woman of Native Hawaiian descent to enter a neurosurgery residency. After collaborating with Dr. Noh on research presented to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, she’s already planning her move back home once her training is complete.

The Excel Health Commitment

At Excel Health, we don’t just treat patients; we invest in the health of our entire community. Dr. Noh’s dedication to teaching the next generation is exactly why we started Excel—to ensure that world-class, specialized care is always available right here at home.

As Dr. Noh puts it, “If we keep supporting one another and lifting each other up, we’ll always find a way to take care of each other.”