Keeping Hawai‘i Healthy 2024

Hear from local healthcare leaders on key issues affecting our communities.

Dr. Jennifer Weiss, Chief of Staff
Shriners Children’s Hawai‘i

Q: How have the services provided at Shriners Children’s Hawai‘i changed over the years?

Looking back to 1923 when the Shriners fraternity founded our Honolulu hospital to provide care for keiki with polio, I am amazed by how much we have grown into a comprehensive pediatric multispecialty orthopedic system of care with locations across North America.

Many people may not realize that although we continue to provide evidence-based specialized care for keiki with rare orthopedic conditions, we also treat a wide range of more common conditions such as scoliosis, clubfoot, and even sports and play injuries. Our outreach team provides care across the neighbor islands and the Pacific Basin, with visits to places such as Guam, Samoa, and Fiji. We have also cared for more international patients from far-away places including Honduras and Benin. Physicians may now directly refer their pediatric patients to our rehabilitation services department for evaluation and treatment. And best of all, our specialty care and services are provided regardless of a family’s ability to pay or insurance status.

Q: What do you think makes Shriners Children’s Hawai‘i so special?

My first thought is the profound sense of gratitude I have in being part of team so invested in our keiki that they have an awareness of things like our patients’ aspirations, what they enjoy, and even the names of their pets. The bonds they form lead to trusting relationships and that is unique in medicine.

The wraparound care we provide enables us to care for the whole child beyond their presenting condition. I recall one of my patients who came to us for an ACL surgery, but unexpectedly complained about numbness in his neck which we discovered was due to an issue with his spine. Had we not listened to his new concern, his spine surgery might not have happened and he may have ended up paralyzed for life. We also address the mental and nutritional health of many of our keiki, as well as their physical, occupational and recreational therapy needs which really makes a difference in helping them live their best lives.

It’s amazing to be part of the largest pediatric orthopedic group in the world, with access to other internationally renowed subspecialists. At Shriners Children’s, we are able to bring those subspecialists who aren’t accessible in Hawai‘i to care for our keiki when needed. When parents entrust their most precious gift – their keiki – to us, we take great strides to ensure they receive the highest-quality orthopedic care in a loving environment.