Mel Ona, M.D.

08/04/2025

He was told he’d never make it.
Rejected by every med school he applied to.
Failed board exams.
Questioned everything, from his identity to his calling.
But he didn’t quit.
He redefined success, through music, martial arts, medicine, and mentorship.
Today, Dr. Mel Ona is a board-certified gastroenterologist, a lifelong creative, and
the author of Fail It Till You Make It a raw and inspiring memoir about choosing
purpose over perfection.

He’s proof that you don’t need a perfect resume to live an impactful life.
You just need the courage to rise after every fall.

Read Fail It Till You Make It, now on Amazon.

08/01/2025

I never stopped singing, even when no one clapped.
Music gave me permission to feel.
It reminded me I was more than a white coat.
This book isn’t just about medicine.
It’s about rediscovering the soul beneath the scrubs.

Tap the link to hear my story!

07/30/2025

I failed tests.
I failed courses.
I failed to meet expectations.
But I didn’t fail forever.
This book is the message I needed back then.
Now I’m giving it to you.

Know someone struggling in school?
Share this. Gift this.

07/28/2025

I failed boards.
I failed to match.
I failed to believe in myself.
But each failure taught me what med school never did:
How to be human.
How to rise.
How to serve.

This book is for anyone who thinks they’re too broken to succeed.
You’re not.

Book now available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJ849H6K

07/25/2025

Dr. Jerome Groopman didn’t just let me into his lab.
He saw potential when I didn’t.
That one yes lit the way.
This book is a love letter to the mentors who save us.

Tag a mentor who changed your life!

07/23/2025

I stayed late. I skipped meals. I cared too much.
Burnout wasn’t sudden, it crept in until I didn’t know who I was anymore.
But healing is possible.
This book is for those who are exhausted from pretending they’re fine.

Tag a healthcare friend who needs rest, not shame.

07/21/2025

I was rejected from every U.S. med school I applied to.
I nearly gave up… until one door cracked open.
That crack became my career.
That pain became this book.
This is not a story of flawless success. It’s a guide for anyone who’s ever been told
“no.”

Read Fail It Till You Make It, for the comeback in you.
Link in bio.

07/17/2025

You studied hard. You followed the rules.
You gave it everything.
And somehow… you're still wondering if it was enough.
Whether you’re a med student facing rejection, a healthcare professional drowning
in burnout, or a dreamer chasing purpose through chaos, you’re not alone.
In Fail It Till You Make It, Dr. Mel Ona shares the raw, unfiltered story behind the
white coat:
Med school rejections
Confidence crushed
Burnout, breakdowns, and near-quit moments
The one “yes” that changed it all

Grab your copy today on Amazon.

02/05/2025

https://youtu.be/br3LkzYqDe8

Sharing my LIVE colonoscopy without sedation!

I decided to share this journey with you to highlight the safety of this procedure. Most patients opt for sedation, which is absolutely appropriate. Sedation helps with comfort during the 20-30 minute procedure.

As I’ll explain, the procedure is not necessarily painful - but can feel uncomfortable if the scope stretches/distends the colon.

So you can imagine that the endoscopist’s skill in navigating the twists and turns gently can minimize discomfort.

Thanks to Dr. Joseph Manlolo for your expertise and willingness to help me in this journey.

Note: a couple of weeks ago, I experienced several days of painless bright red bleeding during bowel movement - this procedure will assess for possible causes such as hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, vascular abnormalities (such as angiodysplasia), and yes, even neoplasm/cancer 😳.

Hoping for the best and thank you for following my personal health journey! 💩🙏

Sharing my LIVE colonoscopy without sedation!I decided to share this journey with you to highlight the safety of this procedure. Most patients opt for sedati...

05/11/2024

Wow what a great reaction from (world renowned vocal coach and social media diva)! 🤩

As promised I’m sharing the last part of ‘Til I Hear You Sing from the musical “Love Never Dies” (sequel to The Phantom of The Opera) with her reaction/analysis/critique. 🙏

I honestly wasn’t sure how it would be received but I trusted that my awesome teachers (former and current) have prepared me to share the gift of song/music in an authentic way. 🤙

So thank you to my former voice coaches (Nancy Kennedy, David Harper, Laura Mennil, Marsha Vleck) and now Kristian Lei/) for building a strong foundation for me to continue honing and perfecting every day forward! 🙏

Singing and music bring me such joy and most importantly brings healing and love to the soul as it connects us all together! 🎼

Much love and gratitude to you all from the bottom of my heart! ❤️

12/18/2023

Aloha all!

I’m super excited and thrilled to launch my newest project and Podcast, “Fail It Till You Make It!”

As the intro reveals, this podcast celebrates the journey of stumbling, fumbling, and downright failing on the road to success!

We’ll navigate the messy, unpredictable path to achieving our goals. Indeed, success isn’t always a smooth ride—it’s often a series of failures that ultimately lead us to triumph.

So get ready, embrace those missteps, and join me as we explore the stories of determination, grit, and resilience, and gain the unconventional wisdom that comes from failing it till you make it!

Stay tuned for the first episode, which will be an exploration of my personal journey in the medical field - and the multiple FAILURES I’ve experienced along the way (from failing to gain acceptance into medical school way back in 1993 to failing one of the medical licensing examinations to failing to Match into residency to ultimately succeeding as a board-certified gastroenterologist and building one of the largest practices in Hawaii!).

Mahalo to all who have supported me and who have persevered in their own respective journeys. Let’s go!!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6OaXxVhajOGFYgtZz0vvPC?si=ikLHJEJbR_GKNMUTM_Q0Nw

12/19/2021

Happy holidays! Trying out some new vocal exercises (“riffs and runs”). Inspired by ! Check out his amazing teaching videos!