STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1833

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 428, 429, 430, 431, 432

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 428, 429, 430, 431, and 432, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Board of Medical Examiners

G.M. No. 428	RONALD H. KIENITZ, D.O., for a term to expire 6-30-2011;
G.M. No. 429	PETER ARNOLD MATSUURA, M.D., for a term to expire 6-30-2011;
G.M. No. 430	JOHN T. MCDONNELL, M.D., for a term to expire 6-30-2011;
G.M. No. 431	MARIA BRUSCA PATTEN, D.O., for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and
G.M. No. 432	G. MARKUS POLIVKA, 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, Ronald H. Kienitz, D.O.; Peter Arnold Matsuura, M.D.; John T. McDonnell, M.D.; Maria Brusca Patten, D.O.; and G. Markus Polivka, with regard to their respective nominations to the Board of Medical Examiners.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Dr. Ronald H. Kienitz to the Board of Medical Examiners was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Hawaii Medical Association. 

     Dr. Kienitz received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Michigan State University in 1980.  He is currently the medical director for Concentra Medical Centers in Honolulu.  He also serves as an expert witness in the state and federal court systems and is a clinical assistant professor with Western University of Health Sciences.  He has numerous licenses and certifications and holds professional memberships with various organizations such as the Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.  Dr. Kienitz has been serving as a member of the Board of Medical Examiners since July 1, 2003, and his broad knowledge base and wealth of experience demonstrates that he can continue to serve a beneficial role on the Board.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Dr. Peter Arnold Matsuura from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Medical Association, and one individual. 

     Dr. Matsuura has a plethora of experience in the medical field.  He graduated from the University of California at Irvine College of Medicine in 1985 and conducted his internship and residency at the University of California at Irvine.  Dr. Matsuura conducted his fellowship in orthopedic surgery at the University of Western Ontario.  He has also served in the medical corps of the United States Army Reserve and has completed tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He is also involved with numerous professional and community organizations.  Dr. Matsuura has been serving on the Board of Medical Examiners since July 1, 2003, and the Board would greatly benefit from his continued service.

     Testimony in support of Dr. John T. McDonnell's nomination was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Medical Association, and two individuals. 

     Dr. McDonnell received his Doctor of Medicine from New Jersey College of Medicine & Dentistry in 1971.  He went on to conduct his internship and residency at New Jersey College of Medicine & Dentistry and completed a fellowship program in allergy and immunology at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.  Dr. McDonnell is board certified in pediatrics and board certified in allergy and immunology.  He is currently an assistant professor of medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and belongs to numerous professional organizations.  Dr. McDonnell also served as the chief of the Allergy-Immunology Department at Tripler Army Medical Center.  He has published a number of articles throughout his medical career and has received several accolades, including being named the Hawaii Medical Association Physician of the Year in 1999.  He is currently a member of the Board of Medical Examiners, having served since July 1, 2003.  Dr. McDonnell's years of experience and abundance of knowledge make him an outstanding nominee for reappointment to the Board of Medical Examiners.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Dr. Maria Brusca Patten from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Medical Association, and one individual. 

     Dr. Patten received her Doctor of Osteopathy from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 1992.  She completed an internship at Highland Green Hospital and her residency at Stanford University Medical Center.  From 1995 to 1996, Dr. Patten was the chief resident at Stanford University Hospital's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program.  She is currently an osteopathic physician with the Department of Neurosciences at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and is the vice-chair of the Board of Medical Examiners.  She has served on the Board since July 1, 2003.  During her current time on the Board, Dr. Patten has shown dedication and has been an active board member.  Dr. Patten's unique background and experience will continue to bring diversity to the Board of Medical Examiners.

     Testimony in support of G. Markus Polivka was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and one individual. 

     Mr. Polivka is currently the president of Monarch Insurance Services, Inc.  He has over thirty years of experience in the insurance industry.  Mr. Polivka is also active in the community, serving as the director of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the director of the Hawaiian Humane Society, and a director of the USS Missouri Memorial Association.  Mr. Polivka provides a balanced membership to the Board as one of the public members. 

     Your Committee notes that Mr. Polivka is being nominated for reappointment to the Board of Medical Examiners and that his initial appointment was in 2002 and, pursuant to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, he will have served the combined maximum terms of service of eight consecutive years on the Board of Medical Examiners as of July 2010.  As such, it is not the intent of your Committee in recommending advise and consent on this nomination that the nominee serve for more than eight consecutive years in the capacity to which nominated. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair