Mel A. Ona

Mel Ona, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A., is a board-certified gastroenterologist, physician leader, and creative polymath whose work bridges medicine, education, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.

He is the author of Fail It Till You Make It, a Two-Time GOLD Medal Winner at the Global Book Awards (Medical Books and Education & Teaching), recognized for its powerful message on resilience, burnout recovery, and personal reinvention.

Dr. Ona earned his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at NYU Langone Brooklyn, where he served as PGY-3 Chief Resident. He went on to complete a Gastroenterology Fellowship at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (Mount Sinai affiliate), where he again served as Chief GI Fellow, followed by advanced endoscopy training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Before medical school, Dr. Ona earned three graduate degrees, including a Master of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism from Tufts University, and a Master of Arts in Medical Science and a Master of Public Health from Boston University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and pre-medical studies from the College of the Holy Cross.

He serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, helping train future physicians. He is the Founder and Medical Director of Ohana Gastroenterology and Ohana Endoscopy Center, and the Founder and Chair/Medical Director of the Division of Gastroenterology at Pali Momi Medical Center.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Ona is a passionate musician, educator, and author. His polymath journey—blending science, creativity, and service—continues to inspire professionals to pursue wholeness, purpose, and growth through adversity.

He has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and authored multiple books.

His message: You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact—you have to keep growing and keep going.

Fail It Till You Make It!