I was born and raised in the small, rural town of Venetia, Pennsylvania. While interning at Tripler Army Medical Center, I discovered that the islands have the same friendly, small-town feel as my hometown, but with much better weather. My mother was a registered nurse who encouraged all her daughters to be doctors. I volunteered many hours with her at the geriatric hospital where she worked. I was always impressed with the care my mother gave her patients. She treated every resident in the county home where she worked with dignity. She spoke happily to them, even when it was unclear if they could hear or understand her. Although my mother never worked in Hawaii, her philosophy was in line with "caring for Hawaii's people like family."