STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1338

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 705, 706

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 705 and 706, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Health

 

G.M. No. 705

VINCENT LEE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015; and

 

G.M. No. 706

MARK YAMAKAWA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Vincent Lee and Mark Yamakawa to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Health.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Vincent Lee from the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and three private citizens.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Lee's health care, community programming, and public health experience qualifies him for appointment to the Board of Health. 

 

     Mr. Lee has more than forty years serving in the health care industry in multiple capacities, serving as a clinical social worker at the beginning of his career and advancing to a health care executive.  Mr. Lee has worked in the private and public sectors, which has helped to further his understanding of public health issues in communities throughout the State.  Mr. Lee currently serves as the Regional Chief Executive Officer of Leahi Hospital where he is responsible for executive leadership and ongoing management, including but not limited to planning, human resources management, quality control of health care, and fiscal management.

 

     Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has been instrumental in the establishment and facilitation of numerous community hospital health initiatives that have served as effective models in the continuum of health care provisions for acute, nursing home, and community-based care.  Mr. Lee has demonstrated a commitment to public service by serving on the Governor's Hawaii State Commission on Persons with Disabilities and chairing the State Emergency Medical Services Commission.

 

     Mr. Lee has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Hawaii; a Master of Social Work degree from George Williams College; and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Hawaii, School of Public Health. 

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Lee's extensive knowledge and experience in the health care field will make him a valuable member of the Board of Health. 

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Mark Yamakawa from the Department of Health, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and three private citizens.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Yamakawa's extensive experience in health care administration, planning, and systems development qualifies him for appointment to the Board of Health. 

 

     Mr. Yamakawa currently serves as the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at The Queen's Medical Center and has worked on various assignments throughout The Queen's Health Systems for over twenty-five years.  In his capacity as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Yamakawa is responsible for the operations of The Queen's Medical Center, which includes over one thousand physicians and nearly five thousand employees.  Mr. Yamakawa also served as the President of The Queen's Development Corporation and the Vice President of Corporate Development for The Queen's Health Systems.

 

     Mr. Yamakawa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Decision Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

 

     Mr. Yamakawa currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lanakila Pacific Foundation, Child and Family Service, CareResource Hawaii, University Health Alliance, and Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Yamakawa is committed to improving the health of his community and the residents of the State as a whole and he will bring strong leadership to the Board of Health.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health 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 Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair