STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1796

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 806, 807, 808, 809

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 806, 807, 808, and 809, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Medical Education Council

 

G.M. No. 806

JUDY KOVELL,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 807

ROBERT HONG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021;

 

G.M. No. 808

ROBERT HONG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025; and

 

G.M. No. 809

MARY ANN ANTONELLI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Judy Kovell, Robert Hong, and Mary Ann Antonelli for service on the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council.

 

JUDY KOVELL

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Judy Kovell from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

 

     Upon review of the testimony and her qualifications, your Committee finds that Dr. Kovell's current positions as the Designated Institutional Official and Director of Medical Education/Graduate Medical Education at the Tripler Army Medical Center qualifies her to be appointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council as one of the three members representing a hospital at which accredited graduate medical education programs are conducted.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Kovell is board certified in psychiatry and neurology and has twenty-five years of active service in the armed forces, of which sixteen were in high level leadership positions, including Chief of Inpatient Psychiatry at Tripler Army Medical Center.  Your Committee notes Dr. Kovell's commitment to medical education as evidenced by her service as the Program Director and Associate Program Director for the Tripler Army Medical Center's General Psychiatry Residency program since 2013, during which she was designated Faculty of the Year for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring in 2014 and 2015.  Your Committee also notes Dr. Kovell's service as a member of the Medical Advisory Board from 2018 to 2021.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Kovell be appointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council based on her leadership experiences, passion for medical education, and commitment to serve the people of Hawaii and the Pacific region.

 

ROBERT HONG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Robert Hong from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

 

     Upon review of the testimony and his qualifications, your Committee finds that Dr. Hong's over thirty years of practice in cardiovascular medicine, over thirty years of teaching at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and his years of experience as the former Medical Director at The Queen's Medical Center, qualify him to be appointed and reappointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council as one of the members representing the health professions community.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Hong, who entered the private practice of cardiovascular medicine in 1987, currently serves as a cardiologist at the University of Hawaii Health Partners; Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine; and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs of the school's Department of Medicine.  Since 1989, Dr. Hong has been training many physicians who practice in the State, and has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and administration.  Your Committee also notes that Dr. Hong served as the Medical Director of The Queen's Medical Center's Heart Physician Practice from 2009 to 2016, and the center's Cardiovascular Invasive and Interventional Services group from 2018 until he joined the University of Hawaii Faculty Practice program in 2019.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Hong has the experiences needed to understand the intricacies of graduate medical education and the importance of training a sustainable workforce for Hawaii.  He is also well equipped to provide the Council with direct knowledge on how to build and navigate medical fellowship programs and systems and has interest in developing systems of inter-professional practice teams.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Hong be appointed and reappointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council based on his leadership skills, commitment to medical education in Hawaii, and experience and knowledge in medical administration.

 

MARY ANN ANTONELLI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Mary Ann Antonelli from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony and her qualifications, your Committee finds that Dr. Antonelli's current position as the Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the Veteran's Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System, fifty years of experience in medical education, and over twenty years of experience in high-level leadership positions qualify her to be appointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council as the member representing the federal health sector.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Antonelli began teaching in 1971, and has since held academic positions at various institutions, including Tripler Army Medical Center, West Virginia University School of Medicine, and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Antonelli was certified in internal medicine in 1974 and has since served in various positions at various hospitals, including as a Rheumatologist at Tripler Army Medical Center and the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Dr. Antonelli continues to serve in numerous academic and medical positions, including as a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Director of Women in Biomedical Science at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Chief of Rheumatology at the University of Hawaii's Department of Medicine, and Chief of Staff for Education at the Veteran's Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Antonelli's career in medical education for over fifty years illustrates her dedication and commitment to educating future generations in the medical industry, and therefore, recommends that she be appointed to the Hawai‘i Medical Education Council.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair