STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1943

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 691, 587, 588, 589, 590

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 691, 587, 588, 589, and 590, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee

 

G.M. No. 691

JAMES ITAMURA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 587

JAMES HENRY-EDWARD IRELAND, M.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 588

MARY L. MARASOVICH,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 589

MILES T. NAKATSU,

for a term to expire 6-30-2008; and

 

G.M. No. 590

THINH TIEN NGUYEN, M.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received the resumes and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds James Itamura, James Henry-Edward Ireland, M.D., Mary L. Marasovich, Miles T. Nakatsu, and Thinh Tien Nguyen, M.D., to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of James Itamura from the Department of Health, Kapa‘a Family Physicians, General Manager of Princeville Operating Company, LLC, Greg Kamm Planning & Management, and two individuals.

 

     Mr. Itamura is an experienced attorney who currently works in the Kaua‘i County Attorney's Office.  He also served in the United States Air Force, United States Air Force Reserve, and the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, retiring in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Mr. Itamura is actively involved in his community and currently serves as the Advisory Board Secretary for the Association for Retarded Citizens and is a Board Member and previous President of the Kaua‘i Salvation Army Advisory Board.  Mr. Itamura's broad legal and military experience will allow him to provide unique insights and make significant contributions to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of James Henry-Edward Ireland, M.D., from the Department of Health.

 

     Dr. Ireland earned a medical degree from Ross University and a Bachelors degree in Anthropology from the University of Hawaii.  Presently, Dr. Ireland works as a physician in the Emergency Department at Hawaii Medical Center and teaches paramedics as a part-time instructor at Kapiolani Community College.  Dr. Ireland's prior professional experience includes performing Emergency Medical Service (EMS) contract work for the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division assisting with the Airport Medical Services and the Airport Automatic Defibrillator Program.  Dr. Ireland's past and current EMS experiences as both an EMS provider and now as an Emergency physician provide him with a heightened understanding regarding the challenges facing EMS and will make him a valuable component of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. 

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mary L. Marasovich from the Department of Health, President of Find Children's Programs Hawaii, and thirteen individuals.

 

     Ms. Marasovich presently works as a speech and language pathologist and is the owner of O‘ahu Speech where she contracts with various state agencies for evaluation and treatment of child and adult speech, language and swallowing disorders.  She is also a member of several professional organizations including the Cleft Palate Team, Hawaii Speech & Hearing Association, Hawaii Speech and Hearing Association, and she has served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Speech & Hearing Association.  Ms. Marasovich's appointment to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee will allow her to utilize her considerable knowledge of the issues surrounding speech pathology in order to make important contributions to Hawaii's complex health care system.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Miles T. Nakatsu from the Department of Health. 

 

     Mr. Nakatsu earned a Bachelors degree in Pharmacy from Idaho State University and a Bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  Presently, Mr. Nakatsu works as a Pharmacist and a Certified Diabetes Educator and Diabetes Disease Manager.  He is a member of many professional organizations including the American Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Associations, and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.  He is also a member of many community organizations including the Hilo Jaycees, the Hilo Elks Lodge 759, and is currently the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Hawaii District Scouting Chairman.  Mr. Nakatsu's extensive knowledge and experience in pharmaceuticals and diabetes provide him with a unique perspective of the medical field making him an important component to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Thinh Tien Nguyen, M.D., from the Department of Health, Chairman of the Board of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Director of the Emergency Department at Pali Momi Medical Center, and the Director of Emergency Medicine at The Queen's Medical Center.

 

     Dr. Nguyen earned a medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine.  Presently, Dr. Nguyen works as a physician at several locations, including the Emergency Physicians' Medical Group, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, and at the Women's and Children Hospital, Hawaii.  He is also the Medical Director of Hawaii Air Ambulance.  Dr. Nguyen volunteers with several community organizations including the Outdoor Circle of Hawaii and The Institute for Human Services of Hawaii.  Dr. Nguyen's wide-ranging emergency medical experience will allow him to make significant contributions to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

 

     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 position 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair