Join Hawaiʻi Young Healthcare Professionals (HYHP) for an interactive virtual session on what rural healthcare looks like across our islands today and how we can advocate for real change. We're excited to feature John Desfor, Project Coordinator for the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association and Data & Policy Analyst at the UH Rural Health Research and Policy Center. Living in Kaʻū on Hawaiʻi Island, John brings firsthand experience alongside a deep background in rural health research, including his previous work with the Rural Policy and Research Institute under Dr. Keith Mueller. He'll share fresh insights on Hawaiʻi’s unique rural health challenges, breakdown what the Rural Health Transformation Act means for our state, highlight pressing needs around vulnerable populations, and give both clinical and non-clinical pros practical tools to speak up for our communities.

Hawaiʻi Young Healthcare Professionals (HYHP) is heading back to Maui! Join us for an exclusive on-site tour and learning session at the Assistance Dogs of Hawaiʻi (ADH) campus in Upcountry Maui.

Healthcare extends beyond traditional clinical settings, hospitals, and medical technology. Animal-assisted intervention plays a vital, multifaceted role in patient recovery, physical independence, and emotional well-being across our islands. This event offers healthcare leaders and emerging professionals a unique look at a specialized service that directly impacts community health outcomes.

What You’ll Experience

During our visit, you will tour the ADH campus, see how future assistance dogs are raised and trained, and gain insight into how non-traditional programs intersect with standard patient care.

We will be joined by key leaders at the facility:

• Emily Stauffer – Director of Training

• Maia Brown – Trainer

• Malia Crouse – Office Manager

Together, they will share their expertise on operating a specialized non-profit healthcare resource, managing intensive canine training curricula, and placing teams that transform patient and community care across Hawaiʻi.