Hawaii Island Family Health Center opens its doors

A first-of-its kind medical clinic and training center for health professionals celebrated its grand opening in Hilo on October 24.

The Hawai'i Island Family Health Center is the culmination of several years of effort by island residents and federal, state, and local governments to address a critical shortage in health professionals available to the Big Island's citizens.

The clinic is staffed by a unique combination of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. They include faculty from:

• The University of Hawai'i at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

• The University of Hawai'i at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

• The University of Hawai'i at Hilo Baccalaureate Nursing Program

• The University of Hawai'i at Hilo College of Pharmacy

Along with the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation's Hilo Medical Center, they will serve patients in the community, while also training future medical professionals to serve in a rural health setting. Dr. Lucy Bucci, MD, MPH, JABSOM Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, is the Site Director. She will lead a staff of two physicians, a nurse practitioner and a pharmacist. They already are seeing about 40 patients a day. (Read full story>>Big Island Health Center)