University of Guam alumnus Keith Sablan has started his first year of medical school at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

Sablan, who graduated from UOG in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, in June completed the JABSOM Imi Ho’ola Post Baccalaureate Program—a highly competitive 12-month program funded by the Department of Native Hawaiian Health that is used to feed students into the School of Medicine.

Upon successful completion of the program, students are offered an automatic seat in the upcoming cohort at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and out of the 12 students in the Imi Ho’ola Program, Sablan was one of eight accepted into the prestigious medical school.

“It’s just always been a knee-jerk reaction to say I want to be a doctor,” Sablan said. “I like science, and I do like giving back to the community. I get joy out of helping someone else.”

Sablan said that the biology program at the University of Guam aligns its curriculum with pre-medical school requirements, which helps students who want to eventually enter into that field. And with a group of helpful professors like Dr. Kate Moots, Dr. Naushadalli Suleman, and the late Dr. Lynn Raulerson, Sablan said he felt prepared to move on to the next step in his dream.

“Keith is just a prime example of what the Biology program has become for many of our pre-med students,” said Dr. Lee Yudin, Dean of the UOG College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS).  “Students can get a great undergraduate education in Biology under CNAS and pursue a medical degree, graduate degree or teaching pathway into STEM education.  Not only did Keith have the grades he also has the heart to become a fine young doctor one day.”

About the John A. Burns School of Medicine
The John A. Burns School of Medicine ranks in the top 20 best graduate schools in the nation in primary care and for the past three years, ranked number one in National Institutes of Health research awards among community-based public medical schools.