STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1124

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 426, 427

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 426 and 427, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Hawaii Medical Education Council

G.M. No. 426	JAMES E. HASTINGS, MD, FACP, for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and
G.M. No. 427	ARTHUR A. USHIJIMA, for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds James E. Hastings MD, FACP, and Arthur A. Ushijima to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Medical Education Council.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of James E. Hastings from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and one individual. 

     Mr. Hastings served as the commander of three major U.S. Army medical centers during his career as a Brigadier General:  Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, and Tripler Army Medical Center.  He is also the former Associate Dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Chair of the Department of Medicine of the John A. Burns School of Medicine from 1995 to 2002.  He currently serves as the Director of the Spark M. Matsunaga Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center where he overseas healthcare provisions to federal beneficiaries.  Mr. Hastings' appointment to the Hawaii Medical Education Council will allow him to utilize his considerable medical knowledge and administrative experience in order to make significant contributions to Hawaii's multifaceted health care system.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Arthur A. Ushijima from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Watanabe Ing & Komeiji, LLP; and one individual. 

     Mr. Ushijima has a longstanding career in the medical field, serving as a hospital administrator for thirty-three years and has actively worked to support both undergraduate and graduate medical education for over twenty-five years.  He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Queen's Medical Center and has also worked as a hospital administrator in four different hospitals on the mainland in a variety of organizational settings.  Mr. Ushijima's vast knowledge and experience in the medical field provide him with a heightened understanding of the complex health care issues in Hawaii, making him a valuable asset to Hawaii Medical Education Council.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair