Kore Kai Liow, MD, is a neurologist, reseacrher and mentor who founded Hawaiʻi Pacific Neuroscience to expand access to specialized neurological care and research in Hawaiʻi while mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists and healthcare leaders.

Originally from Singapore, Dr. Liow completed his neurology residency at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he developed a passion for translating scientific discovery into better care for patients.  After a successful academic career on the mainland, he moved to Hawaiʻi in 2009 with plans to retire only to be confronted with the reality of lack of timely access to specialized neurological care and advanced research treatments.  Together with his wife, Michelle, an entrepreneur, they founded Hawaiʻi Pacific Neuroscience with the simple vision to meet this need, guided by the principles of stewardship and servant leadership.  Today, the organization has grown into one of the largest practices in Hawaiʻi, serving more than 20,000 patient visits annually regardless of insurance status and brought over 200 innovative research therapies to the islands. His work in reducing health disparities among minority and underserved populations was formally recognized by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2024.

Dr. Liow has dedicated his career to building programs that promote innovation in neuroscience by bridging clinical medicine and research. In Hawaii, he created a hybrid research ecosystem that leverages the innovative powerhouse of our global research partners and government agencies to support high-impact neuroscience research in Hawaii and beyond. The Hawaiʻi BRAIN (Bridging Research and Innovation in Neuroscience) mission is to turn data-driven discoveries through basic science, translational, and clinical research to fuel hope and contribute to the scientific knowledge to fight against neurological diseases, especially those affecting Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.  Liow encourages young scholars to pursue academic excellence with integrity, humility, and a heart for service, believing that leadership is a form of stewardship and that the gifts of knowledge, influence, and opportunity are meant to be used for the common good.  Many of today’s leaders have been mentored by him through the BRAIN Scholar and Intern Program where students engage in meaningful research, mentorship, and leadership development.

Professionally, Dr. Liow has served as principal investigator for more than 200 clinical trials and has authored over 100 PubMed-indexed scientific publications. He serves as Clinical Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine and has participated on review committees for the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). His contributions to medicine, research, and mentorship have been recognized with numerous honors, including Hawaiʻi Physician of the Year (2026, Hawaiʻi Medical Association) and the John A. Hartman Excellence in Mentoring and Teaching Award (2021, University of Hawaiʻi).

Dr. Liow’s views his vocation not simply as a profession but as a calling and privilege—to serve the “least of the least,” provide “hope to the hopeless” and inspire the next generation of physicians and healthcare leaders to follow suit.