STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1703

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 720, 721, 722

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 720, 721, and 722, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

 

Hawai'i Medical Education Council

 

G.M. No. 720

KENNETH ROBBINS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021;

 

G.M. No. 721

PAULA YOSHIOKA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 722

ALLEN HIXON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Kenneth Robbins, Paula Yoshioka, and Allen Hixon to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated for reappointment to the Hawaii Medical Education Council.

 

KENNETH ROBBINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Kenneth Robbins for reappointment from Hawaii Pacific Health.

 

     Dr. Robbins currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Hawaii Pacific Health.  Your Committee finds that prior to his administrative career, Dr. Robbins was a full-time practicing pediatrician at Straub Clinic and Hospital for fifteen years.  Dr. Robbins was also previously a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Robbins has been active in physician recruitment activities in Hawaii for the last twelve years.  In his position with Hawaii Pacific Health, Dr. Robbins is directly responsible for overseeing the recruitment of physicians for Hawaii Pacific Health's hospitals and medical groups.  In his personal statement, Dr. Robbins indicated that he hopes to continue thoroughly studying the physician shortage issue facing the State and recommend practical solutions.  Dr. Robbins has served on the Hawaii Medical Education Council since 2012, and your Committee finds that his intimate understanding of Hawaii's physician shortage, clinical and administrative medical experience, and commitment to training the next generation of physicians further qualify Dr. Robbins for reappointment to the Council.

 

PAULA YOSHIOKA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Paula Yoshioka for reappointment from Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, SanHi Government Strategies, and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

 

     Ms. Yoshioka presently serves as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for The Queen's Medical Center, where she works with physician residency programs to meet the needs of The Queen's Medical Center and the overall healthcare needs of the State.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Yoshioka has over twenty-five years of healthcare experience in the public and private sector managing all facets of administrative organizational functions.  Ms. Yoshioka previously served as the Vice Chair of Administrative Services at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Psychology, where she had direct involvement in medical education, and she has served in various capacities with the Department of Health, including Deputy Director.  In her personal statement, Ms. Yoshioka indicated that she is committed to helping the future workforce find creative and innovative ways to adapt to the changes occurring in healthcare delivery, costs, and coverage in order to continue meeting Hawaii's healthcare needs.  Ms. Yoshioka has served on the Hawaii Medical Education Council since 2012, and your Committee finds that her professional experience, leadership in the medical community, and dedication to training new physicians further qualify her for reappointment to the Council.

 

ALLEN HIXON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Allen Hixon for reappointment from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Pacific Health, and one individual.

 

     Dr. Hixon is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Hixon has enjoyed a long career as a primary care physician, obtained a wide range of experience working with the various hospital systems in the State, and previously served as the Residency Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Hixon has worked with the Legislature to provide funding to develop a statewide healthcare rural training network and to support the local residency program to help address the severe shortage of primary care health providers in the State.  In his personal statement, Dr. Hixon indicated that he hopes to develop an actionable statewide strategy for the primary care workforce that considers Hawaii's unique geography and aging population.  Dr. Hixon is currently serving on the Hawaii Medical Education Council and your Committee finds that his professional background, committed leadership of graduate medical education programs, and passion for addressing Hawaii's shortage of primary care physicians further qualify him for reappointment to the Council.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that are 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 Higher Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair