After leaving her island home, she was raised in foster care and wasn’t permitted to pursue college when she graduated from high school at the age of 15. In her early 20’s, she fled an abusive marriage. She then raised three children on her own while working full-time and pursuing a college education. And now Adonica Ihilani Kauwe Tuitama is only weeks away from attaining dual doctoral degrees— both a doctorate of nursing practice, DNP, and a Ph.D. in nursing focused on diabetes in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. As the inaugural student, she is among the first University of Utah students to graduate in this dual doctorate program. 

Where did it all start? Adonica concurrently earned dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and nursing. She was chosen as the presidential intern to President Matthew S. Holland at Utah Valley University and immensely enjoyed the work. But Adonica had received feedback from mentors that she had greater potential. “It came to me when I was volunteering with AmeriCorps,” said Adonica. “We were working with children from Uganda and they needed to be vaccinated. After months of preparations and thousands of dollars invested, the team was notified that there was no nurse available to give the shots. Simple, disease-preventing, life-preserving shots could not be given. That’s when I knew I needed to pursue further education in healthcare.” 

Having received her Bachelor of Nursing, Adonica worked in the emergency department for several years. She went on to complete an MBA with an emphasis in accounting, expanding her ability to understand and navigate the complex systems that shape healthcare delivery. She then served a medical mission in Samoa, where she saw firsthand the impacts of diabetes on this population.  

“There were so many people with advanced cases, people who needed amputations due to diabetic ulcers and who were really suffering,” Adonica explained. “Seeing these people so terribly ill fueled my need to research the links between chronic diseases such as diabetes, mental health and the Pacific Islander population. That’s when I applied to grad school in the College of Nursing at the University of Utah.” Adonica currently works full-time as a charge nurse on the weekend night shifts at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, where she provides care to those with mental health as well as physical issues. 

How does a person with all of these life challenges rise up and go on to earn dual doctorate degrees? Adonica gets emotional when she describes her journey. “I couldn’t have done it without help from some very special people,” Adonica recalled with tears brimming. “These are people who have made sacrifices in order to make my education possible. These are people who allowed my children to nap under my desk, so that I could attend class—people who told me they would do anything for me if it would mean my getting my degree.” 

“Lorelei is one of the people who has profoundly touched me. During the pandemic I was so isolated. But Lorelei was there by my side, helping me with my dissertation and teaching me how to cite sources and build a bibliography. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Lorelei.” 

Adonica went on to describe her relationship with librarian Lorelei Rutledge, “Lorelei is one of the people who has profoundly touched me. During the pandemic I was so isolated. But Lorelei was there by my side, helping me with my dissertation and teaching me how to cite sources and build a bibliography. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Lorelei.”  

Yes, Adonica’s story is one a person never forgets. But her story isn’t complete. She will go on to conduct more research; she will continue to treat ill people and educate patients, and she’ll pass on her knowledge to up-and-coming nursing students. Adonica is only on her first chapter.