This archived content created prior to April 24, 2026 is being made available for reference, research, or recordkeeping purposes only and may not meet current web content accessibility standards. If required, an accessible version of this content can be made on request.
ARCHIVE 2019 Cancer Center News
ARCHIVE-UH Cancer Center ACCRUAL Event Celebrates Community Partners
April 10, 2019
HONOLULU – The University of Hawaiʻi. Cancer Center proudly celebrates the first Annual Cancer Clinical Research Accrual Leaders (ACCRUAL) event. The ACCRUAL event recognizes the clinical trial coordination and administration efforts of the UH Cancer Center’s community partners.
The UH Cancer Center coordinates clinical trials through a robust network on Oʻahu including the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium with oversight of trials at The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health hospitals, Kuakini Health System and numerous private practitioners statewide.
Awardees were recognized for efforts that included reviewing the validity of clinical trial protocols, facilitating clinical research to improve patient care, and for successfully enrolling patients in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic clinical trials.
“We realize that they are going beyond their usual duties and we want to acknowledge them for that,” said Jessica Rhee, MD, medical director of the UH Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. “We could not do what we do in clinical research without these community partners and we want to hold an event to recognize them, to say thank you and to celebrate the successes from the previous year.”
These efforts to improve cancer care and treatments for the residents of Hawaiʻi contribute to the UH Cancer Center’s 20BY25 educational campaign goal to achieve enrollment to cancer clinical trials of 20 percent of all individuals with newly diagnosed & relapsed cancers each year by 2025. The ACCRUAL event celebrates movement toward this goal.
“This whole research program gives patients security in knowing their doctors are looking out for their best interest. It lets the patients know that there is support here in Hawaiʻi for their care and I think that’s another wonderful thing that the UH Cancer Center provides for them,” said Kenneth Sumida, MD, Hawaii Oncology, Inc., winner of a Gold Accrual Award.
Below is a list of the community partners recognized at the event for their efforts in the following areas:
April 10, 2019
HONOLULU – The University of Hawaiʻi. Cancer Center proudly celebrates the first Annual Cancer Clinical Research Accrual Leaders (ACCRUAL) event. The ACCRUAL event recognizes the clinical trial coordination and administration efforts of the UH Cancer Center’s community partners.
The UH Cancer Center coordinates clinical trials through a robust network on Oʻahu including the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium with oversight of trials at The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health hospitals, Kuakini Health System and numerous private practitioners statewide.
Awardees were recognized for efforts that included reviewing the validity of clinical trial protocols, facilitating clinical research to improve patient care, and for successfully enrolling patients in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic clinical trials.
“We realize that they are going beyond their usual duties and we want to acknowledge them for that,” said Jessica Rhee, MD, medical director of the UH Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. “We could not do what we do in clinical research without these community partners and we want to hold an event to recognize them, to say thank you and to celebrate the successes from the previous year.”
These efforts to improve cancer care and treatments for the residents of Hawaiʻi contribute to the UH Cancer Center’s 20BY25 educational campaign goal to achieve enrollment to cancer clinical trials of 20 percent of all individuals with newly diagnosed & relapsed cancers each year by 2025. The ACCRUAL event celebrates movement toward this goal.
“This whole research program gives patients security in knowing their doctors are looking out for their best interest. It lets the patients know that there is support here in Hawaiʻi for their care and I think that’s another wonderful thing that the UH Cancer Center provides for them,” said Kenneth Sumida, MD, Hawaii Oncology, Inc., winner of a Gold Accrual Award.
Each hospital and private office nominated a staff member who facilitated clinical research and contributed significantly to care of patients on clinical trials
Tim Egante, CMA (Island Urology)
Christine Hoover, RN (Tripler Army Medical Center)
Shady Kaleikau, CMA (Hawaii Oncology, Inc.)
Robyn Morse, CCRC (Hawaii Pacific Health – adult oncology)
Kelly Nelsen, RN, MPH (The Queen's Medical Center)
Dee Ann Omatsu, MS, APRN (Hawaii Pacific Health – pediatric oncology)