Kanoa Kelly, M.D.

What this award means: I feel extremely honored to be recognized by the Department; faculty and staff have given me so much support to pursue my passions, better my community, and grow as a future clinician and community advocate.

Mentor comment: Kanoa clearly demonstrated an ability to retain and apply complex, specialty level concepts learned one week to the subsequent days with us. Her skill as a communicator should not be undervalued, as she was able to develop what felt like real interpersonal relationships with patients in a short period of time. – Jonathan Hyak, M.D., Hematology-Oncology fellow

Background and family: I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but moved to five different states up until the age of 7. My family then settled in Austin, Texas. With nurses as parents, I was always surrounded by healthcare. Growing up, my parents would come home from their shifts, and I would eagerly listen to the stories about their patients.

College: I completed my Bachelor of Science and Arts in biology at UT Austin, where I had the opportunity to shape future healthcare professionals by creating a university-level course on cultural humility in healthcare. I also worked as a medical assistant at a maternal-fetal medicine office, where I witnessed the tangible effects of social determinants of health and learned from the physicians who addressed them.

What led to your career path: Living with my family in Austin, I saw the impact of community. We knew our neighbors and lived near close friends, and I realized the importance of collective support and connection for daily life. This understanding, coupled with my passion for health equity, led me to pursue family medicine, where I will truly know and help the people around me.

UTSW activities: I was a volunteer manager for two student-run free clinics that treated unhoused men and women. I created a volunteer training for students to counsel unhoused patients about their health conditions. Additionally, I designed a health education program and student organization (Pediatric Patient Advocacy Program) to help immigrant caregivers and parents navigate the healthcare system for their children. I presented the program’s efficacy at the North American Primary Care Research Group national conference. I was also research coordinator for a student organization, Action Against Inequalities in Medicine, where I organized a lecture series about specialty-specific anti-racism topics.

What words describe your UTSW experience: UT Southwestern has provided the opportunity to build character and enlightenment.

One tip for medical school success: Lean on your support system. Don’t be scared to show them your failures and anxieties. It takes a village to get through this process, and I would be nowhere without my friends, family, and mentors.

Favorite way to relieve stress: I love weightlifting and running to clear my mind after a long day, although my most effective, go-to stress reliever is chatting with friends and family.

Surprising fact: I traveled outside of the country for the first time in medical school for a conference! Since then, I have been to Ireland and will be visiting Korea, England, and Austria before starting residency.

Future plans: First up is completing my residency at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, California. Long term, I hope to blend my passions for medicine and social justice in my future career by working with underserved communities.

About the award: Named after the Chair of Family and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern from 1984 to 1993, the Ross Award includes a $1,000 scholarship from the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.