Aloha,

I am Joseph Durocher, the founder of The Route to Residency.

Growing up on Kauaʻi, I quickly realized that preparing for medical school comes with unique challenges that mainland students—and even students from Oʻahu—don’t face. Access to physicians for shadowing, local clinical opportunities, and research is limited, and resources for MCAT preparation are scarce. Even taking the MCAT itself requires traveling to Oʻahu, which means additional hotel stays, flights, and expenses on top of study materials.

I created this site to share what I’ve learned from going through the process so that other students from Kauaʻi don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. Right now, that means providing practical guidance on the MCAT, volunteering, shadowing, research, and clinical experience—all tailored to the realities of island life.

My hope is that, over time, this project can grow into a community resource: a shared library of pre-medical study materials, an easier way to connect students with local doctors for shadowing, and eventually small scholarships to help cover essential preparation costs.

While these initiatives are still aspirations, I hope that sharing information now can make the journey to medicine clearer and more attainable for students who call Hawaiʻi home, and ultimately help strengthen healthcare on the island of Kauaʻi and throughout Hawaiʻi.

The Route to Residency is a personal, non-commercial project operated independently by Joseph Durocher. The information shared on this site reflects personal experience and research and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not affiliated with any medical school, residency program, or professional organization.