Naoto Ueno, Director of the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Aloha! Yesterday, 12/12, I marked three years since joining the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center – and since leaving MD Anderson Cancer Center – I’ve been reflecting on how much we have accomplished together and how much more we are preparing to build for Hawai‘i and the Pacific.
These three years have been transformative. We successfully renewed our P30 grant and secured our NCI designation, a milestone that reflects the strength of our science and the dedication of our entire team. We will launch the new Medical Oncology Fellowship, helping to grow Hawai‘i’s workforce and train the next generation of oncology leaders right here at home.
Construction of the Ho‘ōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center is now complete, and we look forward to opening its doors in March 2026, bringing cutting-edge clinical trials and first-in-human therapies to our community. Our Preclinical Core has also taken significant strides, expanding capabilities and strengthening the bridge from discovery to patient impact. Our Population Science in the Pacific continues to expand its role in addressing the health disparity-related research.
Leaving MD Anderson was one of the most difficult decisions of my career. Many people may not know this, but I did not negotiate to be retained – I left with a clear purpose. Coming to Hawai‘i has reaffirmed that decision. This place is special, not only for its natural beauty, but for its people – our faculty, staff, trainees, and partners – and for its unrealized potential.
Our responsibility is to harness innovation, elevate clinical care, and address cancer health disparities across Hawai‘i and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. I see that shared commitment every single day.r faculty, staff, trainees, and partners are to this mission.
Both my wife and I plan to stay. Along the way, some locals told me I might not last with so many agendas. Others said three years would be the first real milestone to see whether I truly cared about the community. Well, we’ve passed three years – and we’re just getting started.
As we look ahead, I feel energized. We are building programs that matter, forging collaborations across the Pacific and beyond, and creating opportunities for research-driven, compassionate cancer care. The momentum is real, and it is only the beginning.
Mahalo to everyone who has supported and believed in this vision. I’m honored to serve and excited for what the next chapter will bring for the UH Cancer Center and the communities we serve.”
More posts featuring Naoto Ueno.