Member of the Month – February: Dr. Namealoha Sells Hekekia
Practice: Majority of my time now is spent teaching our next generation of physicians and oversee the clinical years at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. We are in the final stages of getting our primary care clinic up and running and will see patients 1-2 half days a week. I enjoy taking our students to the Volunteer Care Clinic and seeing and providing care for some of our. most vulnerable patients.
Residency: Utah Valley Family Medicine Residency
A bit about Dr. Sells Hekekia: I was born in Cedar City Utah and missed my Hawaiian roots and headed home to Hawaii to complete my undergraduate degree at BYU-Hawaii. I double majored in Exercise and Sports Science and Hawaiian Studies were I feel in love the my culture and sailing double hulled canoes. I attended University of Utah School of Medicine and then residency at Utah Valley. After residency I moved back to Hawaii and worked in community health centers on the Big Island (Hawaii) and north shore Oahu. Several years ago, I was convinced to come back to Utah and join in a new endeavor of teaching the next generation of medical students at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. I have 5 kids and just added a Bernedoodle to keep us on our toes. I love warmer weather and still haven’t adjusted to the cold weather of Utah. My happy place is on the beach or in the water. When I’m not spending time with family and friends you will find me running, swimming, paddleboarding, playing piano, dancing hula, or teaching myself how to play the ukulele.
What keeps you passionate about family medicine? I love the variety of family medicine and being able to constantly learn and have a wide base of knowledge. Mostly, I love taking care of the patients and their families and being able to connect and make a difference in people’s lives.
What do you wish you’d known when you graduated from medical school? To give yourself the same grace and empathy that you give to others.
Where will we find you on your day off? In the water – beach preferably – or spending time with my family.
What are you…
reading right now: Physician Leadership, by Karen J. Nichols
watching right now: Wicked – my kids have this on repeat
listening to right now: The Happiness Lab