Detailed Agenda

This opening session will kick off the day with comments framing the conference agenda and the role State of Reform hopes to play in a new era of policy and politics.

DJ Wilson: Host, State of Reform

The Morning Keynote will include one on one conversations with Hawaii's most thoughtful leaders at the intersection of health care and health policy. These dynamic conversations will offer insights into their thinking about the future of Hawaii health care in 2022.

Hon. Josh Green: Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawaii 

Judy Mohr Peterson: Director, Med-QUEST

This session will bring Hawaii key policymakers together to discuss how health policy fared during last year’s legislative session, work during the interim, and their priorities for the 2022 session. Be sure to bring your questions for an opportunity to directly engage with chairs and leadership of some key health care committees.

Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura: Chair, Senate Committee on Human Services

Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole: Chair, Senate Committee on Health

Rep. Ryan Yamane: Chair, House Health, Human Services, and Homelessness Committee 

From access to health care and social services to vaccine distribution, there continues to be variation in health outcomes based on race, gender, and economic status. This panel will explore health equity in Hawaii and discuss strategies to bring about greater equity in how we address social factors in health.

Kealoha Fox, PhD: Senior Manager, Social Health Integration, AlohaCare 

CJ Johnson: COVID-19 Outreach & Public Health Education Specialist, Hawaii Dept. of Health 

Diane Paloma, PhD: President and CEO, Hawaii Dental Service

Our safety net community is key to caring for our most vulnerable communities. This session will explore the challenges these organizations have overcome, and the passion they have for ensuring that nobody slips through the cracks. Be ready to be energized as you learn about their success and their strategies for the year ahead.

Sherry Menor-McNamara: President & Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce 

Darrah Kuahane, MS: Executive Director, Project Vision 

Kimo Alameda: Chief Executive Officer, Bay Clinic Health Center

The pandemic has disrupted health systems across the country, but the focus is slowly shifting back to costs. This breakout will discuss the work to reform the financial models for providers, innovative partnerships, and the conversations related to the reimbursement system for primary care.

Sheree Paloutzian: Senior Director, Health Plans, West Region, Quest Diagnostics 

Richard Chung, MD: Chief Medical Strategist, Hawaii Independent Physicians Association

Kelley Withy, MD: Director, Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center 

In what is always one of our most popular sessions, some of Hawaii's most well-respected government relations professionals will discuss where we go next with state health policy in the upcoming 2022 session. Bring your questions, as well as your own insights, to a session that is particularly interactive and forward thinking.

Bob Toyofuku: President, Hawaii Advocates 

Blake Oshiro: Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Capitol Consultants of Hawaii 

Amanda Fernandes: Policy & Advocacy Director, Hawaii Public Health System 

After close to two years of immense strain, our understanding of COVID-19 and its impact on society and our system continues to evolve. From overwhelmed providers to vaccine hesitant individuals, many Hawaii residents will face a challenging path to a “new normal.” This panel will explore the lasting impacts of the pandemic and how it’s influencing our communities and health care systems.

Rep. Linda Ichiyama: Chair, House Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness of Maryland 

Tarquin Collis, MD: Chief of Infectious Disease, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

Julius Pham, MD, PhD: Patient Safety Officer & Intensivist, The Queens Medical Center

Joe DeMattos: President & Chief Executive Officer, Health Facilities Association of Maryland 

The implications of poverty are well known, but doing something to employ that knowledge in a meaningful and sustainable way is easier said than done. This diverse panel will share their research, and their hands-on experience about the impact of poverty on our communities, as well as the work we can improve upon, and the path forward.

Lisa Kimura: Vice President, Community Impact, Aloha United Way

Ashley Shearer: Director, Care Coordination, Um & CDI, Queens Medical Center

Jack Barile, PhD: Interim Director, Social Science Research Institute

COVID has highlighted the need for thoughtful coordination and partnership across sectors and silos, if we want to retain and attract a strong workforce. This panel will share how health care organizations and businesses are collaborating and coordinating in new and innovative ways. These panelists will discuss how this work takes shape, the implications for quality care moving forward, and how we can foster ‘new ideas’.

Keala Peters: Executive Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, & Executive Director, Sector Partnership, Chamber of Commerce

Rachel Aquino, PhD: President and Principal Officer, Hawaii Workforce Pipeline

Janna Hoshide: Senior Director, Workforce Development, Healthcare Association of Hawaii

Laura Reichhardt: Director, Hawai'i State Center for Nursing 

We are bringing together a panel of Hawaii’s most senior health care and civic leaders for a discussion on the health care community’s role in the revitalization of Hawaii’s economy after nearly two years of COVID. These leaders will discuss the nuanced challenge, the careful coordination and integration required between the health care sector and the broader community to boost Hawaii’s economy.

Ray Vara: President & Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Pacific Health 

John Fink: Chief Executive Officer, Aloha United Way

David Lassner: President, University of Hawaii 

The conversation in Washington DC around health care today is expansive, with a focus on driving access and coverage for Americans. This panel of respected national figures will join us to share their latest insights and analysis on how the federal policy landscape might shift in the months ahead.

David Lee: Senior Director, Leavitt Partners 

Fish Brown: Director, Federal Relations, Kaiser Permanente

Valinda Rutledge: SVP, Federal Affairs, America's Physician Groups

The pandemic has brought to light how essential diversity in our health workforce can be. Discussions around vaccine hesitancy and cultural competency have raised questions about the larger, systemic barriers that prevent our most vulnerable communities from accessing care. This session will feature discussion on how to improve the workforce pipeline, particularly for Hawaii’s underrepresented communities.

Halaevalu Vakalahi: Dean, College of Health and Society, Hawai'i Pacific University

Deborah Mattheus: Senior Practice Director, Hawaii Keiki

Donna-Marie Palakiko: Director, Mauli Ola Mālamalama, Papa Ola Lokahi  

We know the social determinants are primary drivers of one's health status and we also know those influences are not evenly spread across geography or demography. This session will explore what we know about that uneven spread, and discuss the connection between the health delivery system and organizations that address food and housing insecurity. Be prepared with your questions!

Francoise Culley-Trotman: Chief Executive Officer, AlohaCare 

Helen Kekalia: Chief Executive Officer, Molokai Health Center

Beth Giesting: Director, Hawaii Budget and Policy Center 

As the pandemic stretches on, we are seeing increases in substance abuse, increased anxiety and the economic instability weighing heavily on our behavioral health workforce. This panel will explore the role the pandemic has played, and discuss solutions that work towards reducing harm in our communities.

Briana Duffy: Market President, West Region, Beacon Health Options 

Michael McGrath, MD: Behavioral Health Medical Director, Ohana Health Plan

Leocadia Conlon, PhD: Clinical Director, Hawai'i CARES

Hannah Preston-Pita: Chief Executive Officer, Big Island Substance Abuse Council

From food insecurity to utilizing one-time federal dollars, there are a range of both topics and catalysts that are aligning around some of the bigger ideas in health policy. Will those pieces fit together in one puzzle to drive innovation? This panel will talk through the ideas and the energy building around a significant shift in how Hawaii’s health care system can work.

Jill Tokuda: President, Kalliope LLC 

Katie Ettman: Food and Agriculture Policy Manager, SPUR 

Mitch Roth: Mayor, County of Hawai'i

The US surgeon general recently released a report warning of the “devastating” mental health challenges facing young people. From the impacts of social media to COVID, our children face higher rates of depression, social pressures from media consumption coupled with increased social isolation, and increased substance abuse. This panel of experts will discuss navigating life in the 21st century and what can be done to support young people as they navigate this “new normal.”

Caroline Carney, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Magellan Health

Will Scruggs, MD: President, Hawaii ACEP 

Kurt Humphrey, MD: Medical Director, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division, Department of Health

Justina Acevedo-Cross: Program Director, Community Grants and Initiatives, Hawaii Community Foundations

Building the right community infrastructure to address Hawaii’s unique ecosystem can be both exciting and challenging. These stakeholders will share how they’ve developed partnerships that address culturally appropriate models of care delivery, and establish cross-silo relationships. In this conversation, these leaders will share their thoughts on the future of a sustainable, community-based health system.

Melissa Sherry: Vice President, Social Care Integration, Unite Us

Aimee Grace, MD: Director, Office of Strategic Health Initiatives, University of Hawai'i System

Kamuela Enos: Director, UH System Office of Indigenous Innovation 

Helen Turner: VP, Strategy and Innovation, Chaminade University

From wearables to telehealth, from artificial intelligence to clinical decision support, technology is reshaping care delivery and improving efficiency. So, what lessons have we learned about tech's efficacy as a tool for better health? Thought leaders will take up the discussion and elaborate on what the future holds.

James Lin, MD: Vice President, Information Technology, Hawaii Pacific Health

Carol Robinson: Chief Executive Officer, Cedar Bridge Consulting 

Noe Foster: Co-Founder, HealthTechApps, Inc. 

For the afternoon keynote, we are bringing together two important policy makers for a unique discussion on the financing of health policy. During this discussion, we will hear from both chambers’ leadership on the financial future of Hawaii, how COVID has shaped it, and other legislative priorities for the upcoming session.

Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran: Vice-Chair, Senate Committee on Ways and Means

Rep. Sylvia Luke: Chair, House Finance Committee