STAND. COM. REP. NO. 981

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 506

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 506, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Health

 

G.M. No. 506

ELIZABETH CHAR,

for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Dr. Elizabeth Char for service as the Director of the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Char from the Office of the Governor; Department of Agriculture; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Defense; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Public Safety; Department of Taxation; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Education; Department of Human Services; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii State Energy Office; State Fire Council; University of Hawaii at Manoa Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response Information Network and Training Services; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association; Hawai‘i Tourism Authority; City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management; City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department; Mayor of the County of Kaua‘i; Hawai‘i Fire Department; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; The Queen's Health Systems; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i; One Shared Future Inc.; American Heart Association, Inc.; Hawaii College of Emergency Physicians; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hina Mauka; Kōkua Mau, Inc.; National Association of EMS Physicians; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; and sixty-eight individuals.

 

     Dr. Char is currently the Interim Director of Health and was appointed to the position as the State was grappling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  At the time of her appointment, Dr. Char was working as an emergency physician for Queen's Healthcare Centers; was the Medical Director of American Medical Response, Hawaii; and the Medical Director of both the Honolulu Fire Department and Kauai Fire Department.  Dr. Char has served, among other positions, as the Director of the City and County of Honolulu's Emergency Services Department, Medical Director of Oahu Emergency Medical Services, and President of the Oahu Board of Directors for the American Heart Association.  Dr. Char has also served as an advisor for the Emergency Medicine Interest Group at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Additionally, Dr. Char has served the State as a member of the State's Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Opioid Abuse and Prevention Task Force.  Dr. Char has held these positions while practicing as a physician since 1997.  Notably, the Governor named Dr. Char to the position of Interim Director of Health on September 8, 2020, shortly after Hawaii experienced a spike in COVID-19 infections in August 2020.  She was immediately faced with captaining the State's response to the pandemic through efforts such as contact tracing, developing safety policies, and the ongoing vaccine distribution.

 

     Dr. Char is admired and respected by her colleagues, as evidenced by the unanimous supportive testimony submitted on her behalf.  Testimony in support of her nomination indicates that she has a proven track record of being a tireless worker, an effective communicator, and an experienced physician.  Testifiers who have worked closely with Dr. Char commented that, in her time as Interim Director of Health, she has brought a holistic perspective and vision to the Department of Health and that she makes sound, evidence-based decisions.  Other testifiers noted that Dr. Char brings a leadership style that is authentic, humble, collaborative, compassionate, and competent.

 

     Your Committee notes from Dr. Char's personal statement that her vision for the Department of Health is to lead a team of deputy directors towards a science-based, rational approach to help the State navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate morbidity and mortality in the community.  Dr. Char also highlighted the need for collaboration between government, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector to solve the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health problems that may arise.  Your Committee believes that Dr. Char, with her experience, background, and demonstrated commitment to the health and safety of the people of Hawaii, possesses the qualifications to serve and excel as the Director of Health and to continue leading the Department of Health.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair