You’ve been with HDS since 1985. How has the organization evolved over the last 30 years?

 We have leveraged technology to improve the efficiency, flexibility and quality of the products and services HDS provides to our customers. Our systems and processes have evolved continuously over the last 25 years to provide capabilities that were unanticipated when I first started at HDS. We have seen changes in the dental benefit marketplace where employers increasingly want products specifically designed to their requirements.

Our members trust us with their oral health. I take pride in the systems we have implemented with our local IT development team to apply extensive review of the dental services rendered to our members. This ensures that the dollars spent on their oral health care are used in an efficient and effective way.

What’s the most valuable lesson or piece of advice you’ve drawn upon over the course of your career?

 Early in my career, one of my mentors advised me to solve problems from the inside out. First, I try to understand the business challenge. Second, I try to understand the detailed behavior of the underlying application or process. Third, I try to test potential solutions against both the business needs and the underlying technical constraints to arrive at an optimal solution. I have found this to be extremely useful when solving technical challenges. Now that I deal with more operational issues, I have found it to be an equally useful technique.

What’s new at HDS Foundation?

HDS Foundation works with various nonprofits and organizations across the State of Hawai‘i to increase access to oral health care in underserved communities, improve oral health education and prevent oral disease.

One of HDS Foundation’s recent projects is a pilot program with the Hawai‘i State Department of Health and the University of the Pacific to incorporate teledentistry on Hawai‘i Island and Maui. Teledentistry provides a way for underserved communities to access dental care at schools, transitional housing communities, nursing homes and other community sites. Other projects include incorporating oral health education into community programs for keiki and seniors and providing local community health centers with the resources to expand access to dental care and serve more people.

What are some of the biggest ways technology is changing dentistry?

 Technology has always improved the way dentists perform various treatments. Digital imaging and tools to increase the efficiency and predictability of dental procedures are among the new technology dentists are using these days. For HDS, we’re focused on security. Conversations with our members have been circling around the strategies we employ to keep their personal health information confidential. Our small team of developers and security experts diligently improve the ways in which we secure member data and maintain privacy. They train every single HDS employee on cybersecurity, conduct daily assessments and tests against our systems and have created a strong culture of cybersecurity and awareness.

What’s your favorite part of the job and why?

The best part of my job is getting to see large projects move from conception to implementation. HDS is a small organization by most standards, but this does not dampen our commitment to provide our customers with the best possible dental plan in Hawai‘i’s marketplace. To deliver on this commitment, our organization must be constantly improving. I have the good fortune to lead a team of dedicated and creative professionals. This has enabled us to continue to innovate and improve the dental plans we offer.

What advice would you give someone looking to get ahead in your industry?

 My introduction to the insurance industry was through designing and developing computer systems. By working with business people who are experts in their areas of responsibility, I was able to piece together a broad understanding of how all the individual pieces of an insurance company connect and interoperate. This knowledge is invaluable in my current leadership position here at HDS. I don’t believe this is the singular path for someone who is looking to get ahead in the insurance industry, but it worked for me!