Groundbreaking Held for Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center

Faculty and Staff gather at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College for a groundbreaking ceremony of the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center. Photo courtesy UHMC.

By Maui Now Staff

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College held a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend for the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center.

According to a university announcement, the first floor of the college’s Noiʻi building will be renovated to house the center, which is “designed to increase clinical training space for the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs, and integrate the Maui Oral Health Center currently located off campus.”

Architectural renderings of the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center. Photo courtesy UHMC.

The current health center serves as a teaching lab, and a place where students gain practical clinical experience by providing affordable and accessible care to the underserved, low-income, uninsured families and children of Maui County.

Once the renovation and transition is complete in early 2015, the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center will serve UHMC students and the community with 18 operatories and 3 radiology chairs including state-of-the-art digital imaging systems, the announcement said.

Mrs. Irene Hirano Inouye MPA. Photo courtesy UHMC.

“Senator Daniel K. Inouye understood how vitally important it was to make both healthcare and higher education accessible for all Hawaiʻi residents, including on the neighbor islands,” said UH Interim President David Lassner in a press release statement.

He continued saying, “The UH Maui College Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs provide vital workforce development, giving Maui students the education and skills they need to serve their communities in high quality jobs. The UH Board of Regents naming of this Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center is a truly fitting recognition that honors the senator’s vision, legacy and unwavering support of the entire University of Hawaiʻi.”

UH Maui College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto also commented saying, “The success of the Maui Oral Health Center has been a community effort. More than 50 Maui County dentists, 30 organizations, and 100 donors have worked together to combine education with real-world needs. Re-naming the center after Senator Daniel K. Inouye underscores the importance of collaboration that make a difference in learning for our community’s future.”

Dr. Michael Clarke, DDS, MS at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center. Photo courtesy UHMC.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Daniel K. Inouye Allied Health Center over the weekend. Photo courtesy UHMC.