“I earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Ph.D. in Nursing. The DNP means I can work directly with patients and the Ph.D. means I can work with policy makers and give them the data they need in decision-making. Earning both degrees was important to me because they go hand in hand: research informs practice, practice informs research.
What pushed me toward the Ph.D. was working on FDA clinical studies overseas. Even though I was the principal investigator, I had to work under a doctor because I didn’t have a terminal degree. I realized: I need this not only so that I have a voice, but so I can give voice to the people I’m trying to serve.
My dissertation was on an intergenerational diabetes education program for Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (NHPI) in Utah. I know firsthand the effects of diabetes—I lost my dad last year to it. But the numbers tell their own story: NHPI people make up about 1% of Utah’s population but account for 16-17% of diabetes cases. That’s almost one-fifth of all cases in the state. NHPI data are usually aggregated with Asian populations, which obscures those disparities entirely. There are very few programs for our community. I wanted to figure out a program our population would actually show up for.
I don’t want to just point out problems—I want to be part of the solutions. I’m looking at building a culturally specific Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support program, or adapting existing programs, because the urgency is so high. I don’t want to give up clinical practice either, and I love mentoring upcoming students so that knowledge gets passed on. One day, I’ll be the patient too. We all will.
What I keep coming back to is gratitude. So many people helped me. I worked full-time through the program because I didn’t have a choice. My grandfather used to say: If you can’t give when you have nothing, you won’t magically learn to give when you’re wealthy. Lift where you are. Give while you’re a student. Be kind, be free of judgment and figure out how you can ease someone’s burden so they can reach their goals too.”
— Adonica Ihilani Kauwe Tuitama, Class of 2026, Ph.D. in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (AGACNP & FNP), College of Nursing, from Naalehu, Hawaii