STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3164

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 397

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 397, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Hawai'i Medical Education Council

G.M. No. 397

FEREYDOUN DON PARSA, MD, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds that Fereydoun Don Parsa, M.D., has the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Hawaii Medical Education Council (HMEC).

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the University of Hawaii System.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Dr. Parsa earned his Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science degrees from Lausanne Medical School in Switzerland.  He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Dr. Parsa is currently a Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).  He is also Chief of the Plastic Surgery Division and actively practices plastic surgery at The Queen's Medical Center.

     Dr. Parsa is extremely well-published, having authored and co-authored over seventy articles, some of which have appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Journal of Surgery, and the Hawaii Medical Journal.  He has also written book chapters and presented papers to surgeon organizations.  However, Dr. Parsa is not just a researcher and academic; as Dr. Parsa's four Annual Students' Excellence in Teaching Awards from JABSOM show, he is also able to transfer his knowledge effectively to train future physicians.

     Dr. Parsa has also volunteered his time and medical skills to serve others.  He is a member of the State of Hawaii Board of Medical Examiners, John A. Burns School of Medicine Steering Board, Board of the Friends of the Medical School, Aloha Medical Mission, and Board of Directors of the Pan-Pacific Surgical Association.  He has also taken on leadership roles, including Chairman of the Pan-Pacific Surgical Congress, Chairman of the Nominating Committee of Hawaii Medical Association's Physician of the Year Award, and Chairman of the Honolulu County Medical Society's Ohana Committee.  Additionally, Dr. Parsa has volunteered with IRAQ STAR to provide free plastic and reconstructive surgery to wounded and deformed American soldiers returning from war and participated in several Aloha Medical Missions to the Philippines and China, for which he has been formally recognized by the Hawaii House of Representatives.

     Dr. Parsa's recommendations to improve health care training in the State include increasing training opportunities for Hawaii's potential physicians, increasing enrollment at JABSOM, and implementing loan forgiveness programs to encourage physicians to work in underserved areas of the State.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Parsa is highly qualified, as an accomplished practitioner and outstanding teacher, to help the HMEC implement these recommended changes and address the challenge of attracting and retaining physicians in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair