Na Leo OlaNewsletter of the Hawaii Medical AssociationVolume 1, Issue 2 October 2021

Inaugural CME@HMA Event a Resounding Success

As part of its educational mission, HMA is offering CMEs to Hawaii’s physicians throughout the year.  The inaugural offering in our CME series was held on October 1 & 2, 2021.  In keeping with current Covid protocols, all CMEs were conducted in a virtual format on Zoom. Five leaders in their specialties gave generously of their time and expertise to help make our CME event top-notch. Many thanks to our presenters: Jill Omori, MD; Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, MD; William Haning, MD; Kore Kai Liow, MD; and Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, MD. A special mahalo also goes out to S. Kalani Brady, MD and Brenda Wong for securing our speakers and for their mana‘o.

The next offering in our CME@HMA series is scheduled for January 2022, just before Ola Pono Ike. Watch this newsletter and our website for updates and registration information.

As a nonprofit organization, the Hawaii Medical Association is governed by a dedicated group of physicians who volunteer their time and leadership skills to keep our organization true to its mission. Our most recent leadership election took place the last week of September. Here are the results of the election:

Welcome Your 2022 HMA Leadership Team

For the first time, HMA gave five options for casting a ballot: by online poll, fax, email, USPS or dropping off a completed ballot. Ballots submitted by Friday, October 1 at 12 noon were counted; an impressive 48% of members eligible to vote cast a ballot.

Congratulations to our elected HMA leaders, and a huge mahalo to all our candidates and to the HMA leaders who are completing their current terms. You are the lifeblood of our organization, and your involvement keeps our organization moving forward!

President: Angela Pratt, MDPresident-Elect: Elizabeth Ignacio, MDTreasurer: Nadine Tenn-Salle, MDAMA Delegate: Bernard Robinson, MDHMA Councilors-at-large: Brandon Lee, MD; Myron Shirasu, MDHMAD Board: Gary Okamoto, MD;Myron Shirasu, MD; William Wong, Jr., MD

News From the Department of Health

Executive Director’s Message by Marc Alexander

October started off with a blast, including our inaugural CME@HMA program, October 1-2. Dr. Kalani Brady with the assistance of Brenda Wong ( JABSOM CME Coordinator), organized a blue-ribbon lineup with Drs. Jill Omori, Lt. Governor Josh Green, Bill Haning, Kore Kai Liow, and Lee Buenconsejo-Lum offering inspiring and cutting-edge

presentations to our physicians. Using our newly installed video-conferencing technology, participation was truly statewide, as will be the norm going forward for all our major programming.

The Annual Meeting was also held virtually on October 1st. The election results (covered separately) were announced, with several contested elections for the first time in years. Voting was done prior with several options available to members; over 60 members voted from three islands, with over 80% going digital. The future is indeed now.

The new HMA dues structure is already having a positive impact. Calendar year membership in HMA is now $400 with the balance of 2021 membership included with every paid 2022 membership. Retired and emeritus members are asked to contribute $25 per annual membership, while student and resident membership is $10. Honolulu County Medical Society has started a special scholarship for young physicians, which covers all but $25 of their HMA and HCMS membership. Thank you HCMS.

Impact? As of October 6th, we have signed up over 40 new or returning members (not including retired, emeritus, student, or resident members), including several neighbor island physicians. But the big push for membership is only beginning. Imagine if every current member of HMA committed to asking two colleagues who aren’t members, to join HMA now? Nothing takes the place of a personal invitation from a colleague.

Bernard Robinson, Sr., MD (HCMS)

Don Parsa, MD (HCMS)

Jerry Van Meter, MD (penultimate

immediate past president)

Lance Taniguchi, MD (HCMS)

Michael Champion, MD (immediate

past president)

Nadine Tenn-Salle (HCMS)

Robert Santry, MD (MCMS)

William Wong, Jr., MD (HCMS)

HMA Nominating Committee2021 - 2022

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is one of 30 states to receive a $2.2 million federal Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) grant, providing the state $445,000 a year for the next five

years, $2.2 million total, to address pediatric mental health care for children and youth ages 3 to 21 years.

The purpose of the PMHCA program is to promote behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care using telehealth, which has drastically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic to curb spreading the disease and to lessen the burden on hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Ola Pono Ike, our annual Gala event, is scheduled for Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Ballroom. Mark your calendars and save the date!

The past two years have been trying times for the medical profession; people are taxed beyond their limits, and our community is sorely in need of a release valve. Ola Pono Ike 2022 couldn’t have come at a better time: Covid numbers are dropping, gatherings are making a comeback, and our medical practitioners are in need of a well-deserved break.

Besides being a respite for the medical community, Ola Pono Ike also raises much-needed funds that support our mission of education and advocacy, along with deserving charities in the medical arena.

Table sales and individual tickets are already under way! Get your reservation in early, as space is limited. To reserve your spot at Ola Pono Ike, contact Yvonne Morris at 808.536.7708 or by email aty.morris@hawaiimedicalassociation.org.

Ola Pono Ike Set