STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1723

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, and 473, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Health

G.M. No. 468

GENEVIEVE A. KINNEY, Ph.D.

for a term to expire 06-30-2008;

G.M. No. 469

ANN M. KWOCK, D.V.M.

for a term to expire 06-30-2008;

G.M. No. 470

BARRY SHITAMOTO, M.D.,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008;

G.M. No. 471

RICHARD E. SMITH, R.E.H.S., M.P.H.,

for a term to expire 06-30-2005;

G.M. No. 472

RICHARD E. SMITH, R.E.H.S., M.P.H.,

for a term to expire 06-30-2009; and

G.M. No. 473

JEFF J. SOL, M.D.,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of GENEVIEVE A. KINNEY, Ph.D., from the Department of Health and an Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Ms. Kinney earned a B.S. in Nursing and an M.A. in Nursing Education from St. John's University and Columbia University, respectively. She continued on to receive a Ph.D. in Transcultural Nursing from Union Institute in Ohio. Ms. Kinney was the first Nursing Director of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Baccalaureate Nursing Program. Over the last thirty years her nursing experience has included working at the University of Hawaii School of Nursing and the Hawaii Community College Nursing Programs. She also served as an Air Force Nurse. Currently, Ms. Kinney is the Principal Investigator of a research project related to health care practices of Micronesians, Native Hawaiians, and Filipino families. Ms. Kinney's experience in public health nursing and nursing education will be a great asset to the Board of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of ANN M. KWOCK, D.V.M., from the Department of Health, a senior researcher from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases - Japan, a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology, an Emeritus Professor from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and six individuals. Dr. Kwock earned a B.S. from Washington State University and a D.V.M. from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed a residency certification in Veterinary Clinical Pathology at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Aside from her private small animal veterinary practice, Dr. Kwock is also a successful loan officer with Primary Residential Mortgage. Dr. Kwock's perspective will enhance the Board of Health, especially as it concerns the relationship of animals to human health, as with diseases like SARS, poxvirus, and avian influenza.

Your Committee received testimony in support of BARRY SHITAMOTO, M.D., from the Department of Health, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Maui Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Shitamoto is board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. He earned his B.A. in Microbiology from the University of Hawaii and his M.D. from the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Shitamoto completed a pathology internship and residency at the University of Colorado Health Science Center and a fellowship in Surgical Pathology at the University of Minnesota Health Science Center. He currently practices pathology at Maui Memorial Medical Center Laboratories. Dr. Shitamoto's wide-ranging experience includes having served as Executive Vice-President of Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, Inc., Vice-Chief of Staff of Maui Memorial Medical Center, and Director of Laboratories at Maui Memorial Hospital. His community service includes having served on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society and as President of the American Heart Association. Dr. Shitamoto's experience and community service make him well qualified for the Board of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of RICHARD E. SMITH, R.E.H.S., M.P.H., from the Department of Health, the President of Coldwell Banker Previews International, the President of Kauai Vacation Rentals & Real Estate, Inc., and seven individuals. Mr. Smith is currently filling a vacancy and is seeking reappointment to the Board. Mr. Smith earned a B.A. in Environmental Health from San Jose State University and a M.P.H. from the University of Michigan. He worked for thirty-two years as a State of California Registered Environmental Health Specialist. Mr. Smith's vast public health experience includes working in areas such as food protection, solid waste, water supplies, sewage disposal, recreational water safety, and housing. He also has experience managing a hazardous material program and a hazardous waste enforcement program. Even though he is retired, Mr. Smith is dedicated to protecting the public against the degradation of food, water, land, and air resources. He volunteers on the Hanalei Watershed Hui, a nonprofit federally recognized group that seeks better solutions for sewage disposal. He also volunteers to teach science at Hanalei Elementary School. Mr. Smith's knowledge and experience in environmental health will greatly enhance the Board.

Your Committee received testimony in support of JEFF J. SOL, M.D., from the Department of Health, Windward United Church of Christ, a professor from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa College of Education, a professor of medicine, and five individuals. Dr. Sol is semi-retired after practicing cardiology and internal medicine in Hawaii for thirty years. He earned his A.B. from Columbia University and his M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Sol completed an internship and first year of residency at Boston City Hospital. He also served as a Major in the Army Medical Corps at Tripler Army Medical Center for two years. Dr. Sol is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, where he has taught for the past thirty years. His distinguished medical career includes being a former Director of the CPU and ICU units at Castle Medical Center and a former Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory and Treadmill Exercise Testing Laboratory at Castle Medical Center. Dr. Sol has also served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Heart Association and as President of the Windward Unit of the Hawaii Health Association. Dr. Sol's years of experience in the practice and teaching of medicine make him a valuable asset to the Board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair