Located within the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children is an examination room dedicated for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC) to provide medical services to victims of sexual assault.

Prior to the establishment of the SATC, forensic exams for victims were done at the city morgue. This undesirable environment changed in 1974 when the late Dr. Stanley Saiki, former chief of staff at what was then known as Kapiolani Hospital, had the vision and foresight to move the examina- tion site to the Kapiolani Hospital. While evidence collection was the only objective for conducting the exams at the morgue, the move to the hospital resulted in the addition of quality medical care and counseling services for survivors of sexual assault.

How fortunate we are at SATC for the leadership of Dr. Saiki, and for Dr. Francis Terada, who served as our first medical director.

While it is heartbreaking that our examination room is used nearly every day to help victims of sexual assault, I am thankful for the many physicians who over the years have brought medical leadership to the SATC. I especially remember Dr. Ralph Hale, Dr. Roy Nakayama and Dr. Eberhard Mann, who shaped the program to include a dedicated team of physicians on-call 24/7 to provide the needed medical care. Physicians in private practice, employed by other hospitals or the University of Hawaii, were asked to step away from their practices to respond in the middle of the night to care for victims who were brought to Kapiolani for the SATC forensic examination.

While such willingness to provide this important service is astounding, this on-call practice continues to this day, and I’m very grateful for our team of physicians who give of them- selves and share their expertise for the benefit of those we serve.

The SATC doctors are at the forefront of our sexual assault response team, which includes crisis intervention workers and therapists. The team is on-call 24/7 to meet the critical needs of survivors and their families. Our doctors are unique. They understand forensic evidence and medical procedures as they relate to the circumstances of a sexual assault, and they testify in court hearings. Most important, at the time of the forensic examination, in concert with the SATC crisis worker, they help the sexual assault survivor begin the road to recovery.

Dr. Steven Emura, SATC medical director, shared this: "Working for SATC gives me an opportunity to use my skills to provide services for victims in a medically accurate and compassionate way."

Dr. Bob Bidwell, SATC pediatrician for over 25 years, shared his perspective: "The children have taught me the tremendous resilience of the human spirit."

In honor of National Doctor’s Day yesterday, and as we head into April, national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the staff at SATC salutes the dedication and contribution of our doctors who provide the forensic services for sexual assault survivors.

These individuals are motivated by a deep sense of community service and a strong personal desire to help someone who has suffered an egregious crime.

The doctors are: Robert Bidwell, Steven T. Emura, Guliz Erdem, Wayne K.F. Lee, V. Ted Leon, Nichole Littenberg, M. Stanton Michels, Kayalvizhi Natarajan, David Paperny, Richard Ricardo and Akiko Yazawa.