Angel Wood, a newly graduated UH Hilo Chancellor’s Scholar, is on her way to doctor of osteopathic medicine degree
About her time at UH Hilo — through the challenges of courses, research, and community service — Angel Wood says, “I feel that everyone worked together to help.”
A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 2025 graduate in molecular biology is on her way to becoming a doctor of osteopathic medicine.
Angel Wood, who hails from Captain Cook on Hawaiʻi Island, graduated from Konawaena High School in 2021 and received, last month, her UH Hilo bachelor of science in biology on the cellular and molecular biology track. She also earned a minor in chemistry and received a certificate in Spanish language for careers. This fall she’s leaving her island home for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
“I am choosing osteopathic medicine for my advanced degree because I believe the body is interconnected,” says Wood. “The mind, body, and spirit work together and mental health as well as physical health should be considered when diagnosing and treating a patient. I believe in the holistic view of osteopathic medicine.”
Wood was a UH Hilo Chancellor’s Scholar, a member of the 2021 cohort; the UH Hilo Chancellor’s Scholarship is a prestigious award created for graduates from Hawaiʻi High Schools that covers four years tuition.
While at UH Hilo, Wood conducted research under the guidance of Professor of Biology Li Tao, and presented her work, “Generation and Purification of Anti-Tumbleweed Antibodies,” at the annual symposium of the Hawaiʻi Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), a federal program supporting the expansion of biomedical research capacity in the state.
Also during her time at UH Hilo, Wood was a member of two campus pre-med clubs: the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) chapter at UH Hilo, and the Future Healthcare Leaders Society, which is affiliated with AMSA.
In the spirit of community service, Wood worked with the local nonprofit Street Feet.
“Street Feet is based in Kona and is a faith-based non-profit organization,” says Wood. “Once a month Street Feet meets to hand out food and basic necessities to the houseless community. Street Feet is made up of doctors, nurses, and people in the community who want to make a difference.”
“I love working with Street Feet because once I become a doctor, I want to work with the houseless the same way we do with Street Feet,” she says.
Challenges and awards: “While at UH Hilo, I feel that everyone worked together to help”
Wood says the biggest challenge in completing her bachelor’s degree was learning to find balance. “I took too much on my sophomore year and I had to quickly learn that balance and breaks are just as important as studying and doing assignments.”
Finding that balance led her to academic excellence: in May she was the recipient of the Don Hemmes Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Cell, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences. (Fellow Chancellor’s Scholar Rosemary Bearden received the Mae Mull Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology.)
But what Wood values most about UH Hilo is the bond she made with the other Chancellor Scholars in her graduating class. “Those girls are very talented and I enjoyed getting to know them,” she says.
“While at UH Hilo, I feel that everyone worked together to help,” she adds. “My biggest support system was (Professor of Communication and Coordinator for the Chancellor’s Scholarship) Randy Hirokawa as I felt he always asked me how I was doing and what he could do to help me. His class is how I met the other amazing Chancellor Scholars and his dedication to his students helped me in more ways than academics.”
Wood’s plan for the summer is to enjoy her days off and spend it with her sister Sarah, who is also a Chancellor’s Scholar, before moving to the mainland for school in the fall.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
