Dr. Vanessa S. Wong, MD, MS is a Palauan family physician and medical educator. She was born and raised in Guam to parents who are originally from Peleliu and Koror. Vanessa moved to Hawaii to pursue her undergraduate education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, subsequently graduating from the University of Hawaii at Hilo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology. She completed the ʻImi Hoʻola Program for students from disadvantaged backgrounds interested in pursuing a career in health care. In 1999, Vanessa received her MD from the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii, where she also completed her family medicine residency training. She joined the JABSOM faculty in 2002 in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health where in addition to her clinical and teaching duties, she was the program director for the Pacific Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (PCCCP) funded by the CDC. Through the PCCCP, all USAPI jurisdictions developed cancer coalitions, cancer plans, and received additional federal funding to help address the cancer needs within their communities.
Currently, Vanessa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health and the Office of Medical Education at JABSOM. In addition to her teaching and administrative responsibilities, her work involves improving cultural competency in medical education and the recruitment, retention and promotion of underrepresented minority students and faculty within the health professions.
PROFILE
Position: Assistant Professor
Organization: University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
Contact: wongvanz@hawaii.edu
Website: https://jabsom.hawaii.edu/
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Education
- Health
LANGUAGE
- English, Palauan