HPU faculty and staff at the 2025 Hawai'i Public Health Association event.
Public health students and faculty from the HPU School of Nursing spent an afternoon last fall doing what they do best, showing up for their communities, learning from local leaders, and imagining the future of health in Hawaiʻi together. The Hawaiʻi Public Health Association (HPHA) Annual Meeting and Pau Hana Celebration, held at the UH Cancer Center’s Sullivan Conference Center on November 14, was themed Resilient Together: Navigating Change and Building the Future, and it brought together professionals, students, and advocates from across the state.
“I am very proud of our public health faculty and students on their participation at this event,” said HPU School of Nursing Dean Edna Magpantay-Monroe, EdD, MSN, RN. “The School of Nursing funded the students and faculty for their attendance. It was a great networking event to meet representatives from other schools and community partners. The topics presented were relevant to the needs of any advocates for public health issues.”
HPU had a dedicated table at the event, where students shared information about the University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH), Master of Public Health (MPH), and Physician Assistant (PA) programs.
Public health faculty, including HPU Assistant Professor Derek Cegelka, Ph.D., HPU Professor Jayne Smitten, Ph.D., along with Dean Magpantay-Monroe and HPU Associate Professor Leocadia Conlon, Ph.D., represented the nursing and the physician assistant programs. The afternoon blended networking, conversation, and pupus with discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing public health in Hawaiʻi.
For Cegelka, who serves on the HPHA board, the event was another opportunity to live out the organization’s mission.
“Serving on the board means I get to help improve health and serve as a voice for public health professionals and organizations in Hawaiʻi,” said Cegelka. “Board members collaborate with local partners, cultural leaders, and public agencies to promote evidence-based, culturally grounded public health initiatives. The role also involves strong governance, advocacy, and stewardship to ensure lasting and positive health impacts on the community.”
HPU students described the meeting as both eye-opening and validating, especially for those still finding their footing in the field. For Master of Public Health (MPH) student Princess Pascua, the experience was a turning point.
“This year was my first time attending the HPHA Annual Meeting,” said Pascua. “As an MPH student with limited experience in the public health field but a genuine desire to become more involved in the community, I felt both empowered and inspired by the many professionals and leaders present.”
Pascua volunteered at the event, helping behind the scenes while absorbing conversations around her. What struck her most was not that experts had all the answers, but how comfortable they were admitting when they didn’t.
“As an aspiring healthcare professional, I have often felt pressure to have all the answers,” she reflected. “However, this meeting taught me one of the most valuable lessons: effective work—especially in health care—is a team effort. No single person can know everything, nor should they be expected to. When presenters were asked questions outside their expertise, they responded with honesty and humility. Their transparency reinforced that it is okay not to have every answer and that collaboration and continuous learning are at the heart of public health.”
For Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) student An Vo, the HPHA meeting was not just a learning opportunity, it was a door to real-world experience.
“The HPHA Conference is an opportunity for public health students to gain knowledge about real public health work and opportunities to be involved with public health coalitions,” said Vo. “Last time, I learned about a Hawaiʻi anti-tobacco youth council, which led me to earn my internship position with the council, allowing me to advocate for flavor bans and work on anti-tobacco projects with public health professionals.”
Vo highlighted how accessible the event is for students and how it encourages them to stretch beyond the classroom.
“Other health conferences cost a thousand bucks for a ticket, but the HPHA Conference is only $5 for students,” Vo added. “We are presented with tables and presentations of opportunities to be involved in protecting our community and public health. Learning outside of class is more enriching than just going to class; and when I tell future employers that I took opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute outside of HPU, they will look at me with shining eyes and hire me on the spot.”
BSPH student Gabrielle Mendiola came away from the meeting feeling energized by the range of organizations striving to improve health across Hawaiʻi.
“After attending HPHA’s 2025 Annual Meeting, I felt very enlightened and motivated by the work done in different organizations to improve the health of the community in Hawaiʻi,” said Mendiola. “I was able to network with various health professionals in the field and connect with students from different universities about their future plans and goals.”
