How has the COVID-19 pandemic positively affected your career/business?

I was named chief operating officer of Pali Momi Medical Center near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it provided me with a great opportunity to see Pali Momi’s staff and physicians working together to prepare for the worst while giving their best! What was immediately clear to me was that our staff was well prepared for this situation, having previously gone through extensive training in the proper infectious disease protocols to ensure their safety so they could focus on caring for our patients.

How is your company/ business pivoting to changes from the COVID-19 pandemic?

One positive development as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased use of telehealth, which provides a safe and convenient way for our patients to connect with a healthcare provider and get the medical care they need without having to leave home. Patients can easily connect with their care team through their mobile device, tablet, or computer. Services include video and phone visits, messaging doctors through our secure online patient portal, MyChart® by Hawai‘i Pacific Health, virtual urgent care, and more. Telehealth will become more routine in healthcare moving forward, and we’ve received very positive feedback from patients who are already using it.

How do you maintain your own health/well-being?

A steady diet of prayer and devotions start my day. I also focus on eating right and staying active with my favorite outdoor activities—paddling in my one-man canoe and stand-up paddle boarding. When I can’t take advantage of our great outdoors here on O‘ahu, I get my workouts in at home with online workouts.

What are your daily habits?

On the weekdays, I’m up at 4:30 am I shower, dress, and get in my prayer and devotions along with my breakfast of papaya and berries with coffee. I’m out the door by 6:00 am and at work by 6:30 am This gives me the opportunity to make my rounds of the facility to say thank you and check in with the night staff and physicians before they end their shift, which I do at least twice a week. After that, I’m checking emails, rounding with staff, planning, and touching base with our teams while also working in cadence with my partners throughout Hawai‘i Pacific Health.

What have been the most exciting things about this job/business/industry?

Watching our healthcare teams adapt, stretch, and work together with a patient-first focus during this COVID-19 pandemic has been something that I have never witnessed before, and it’s been amazing. Healthcare brings together every facet of business and focuses them on caring for others. The best part of this whole experience for me is being part of an organization like Hawai‘i Pacific Health. While we focus on the business aspects, such as looking at how we deliver care and how we can be more efficient and cost-effective, we also base our decisions on what’s best for our patients and the community. It comes down to our mission of creating a healthier Hawai‘i, and that inspires me in what I do every day.

Did you always know you wanted to be in health and wellness, or is this something that happened over time?

I actually wanted to be a Navy diver first and became a diving medic instead. After serving my country in the U.S. Navy, I decided to go into nursing where I found my way to make a positive difference by giving back to the people of Hawai‘i.

Who is someone you look up to or model after? A mentor?

Dawn Ching, who is vice president of operations at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, has been a mentor, pastor, and friend to me. She has been someone who has guided me professionally, personally, and spiritually, for which I am immensely grateful.