professionals practicing privately were at a disadvantage . Dr . Straub ‘ s solution was to establish Hawai ‘ i ‘ s first specialized medical clinic . The new concept of group practice had a clear-cut mission — to bring together a group of physician specialists and provide the finest expert care available in the islands . By 1921 , Dr . Straub and his early partners had established “ The Clinic .“ A century later , Straub Medical Center still stands by that mission to provide quality health care through its 159-bed hospital and network of more than 20 neighborhood clinics across the state .
Dr . Yanigihara marvels at being a part of Straub ‘ s bigger picture . Dr . Yanigihara ‘ s contribution to that tradition of care is impressive in her own right . She estimates that more than 2,000 newborns have started their lives with her as their pediatrician .
Audrey Watson is the mother of four of those babies . She initially visited Dr . Yanigihara when she was pregnant with her first child . “ I liked her rapport with me ,“ Audrey said . “ I felt very comfortable . Throughout the years , when she said ‘ don ‘ t worry ,‘ I didn ‘ t worry .“
Now the Watson kids are all grown up and the former patients are becoming parents . Audrey ‘ s oldest , Kelcie Tuamoheloa , who was the family ‘ s first baby born with Dr . Yanigihara , recently had a baby boy of her own named Kaleb . Dr . Yanagihara , of course , was there .
“ I grew up with Dr . Lynn ,“ Kelcie said . “ I see her almost like an auntie . We always call her auntie when we walk into the doctor ‘ s office .“
“ I really love that she ‘ s so dependable . I never have to wonder when Dr . Lynn is going to get back to me regarding baby . She always responds on the same day . It just makes me feel more at ease , especially as a new mom .“
The practice has been built on family tradition for some , but mainly word-of-mouth referrals continue to keep the clinic thriving .
“ There ‘ s so many people from Kāne ‘ ohe that you just end up running into at the clinic , so it ‘ s nice ,“ Kelcie said . “ You just feel like you ‘ re in a safe space .“
Dr . Yanigihara holding the announcement for the opening of the Straub Medical Center Kāne ‘ ohe Clinic in 1986 .
Giving parents a sense of security is a rewarding part of the job for the doctor , herself a mom of three .
“ That fills my bucket — helping parents with their children , the most valuable thing they have .“ Dr . Yanagihara said . “ It ‘ s a huge responsiblity , but really a privilege to be a part of that .“
This holds true to the 100-year tradition of care Dr . Straub imagined . Dr . Yanigihara takes that responsibility to heart and impresses upon physicians to take Straub Medical Center into the next century better than they found it .
“ Fortunately , as history has it , Straub Medical Center had the foresight to invest in satellite clinics ,“ Dr . Yanigihara said . “ That gave me an opportunity to do what I love to do . I have a lot of respect and feel obligated to the people who came before me . I really hope that we now think about the next generation and we leave them something that they will enjoy and thrive in as much as I feel like I have .“
8 INSPIRE | 2021