- Ending the pandemic
- Mental health, especially among our youth
- Programs for helping Kupuna live well at home
- Using tech like telehealth to improve health and wellness outcomes
Health & Wellness 2021
This discussion included change-makers in Health & Wellness from across the Islands – from Kaua‘i to Hawai‘i Island.
During this event, they discuss the following topics:
Featured Panelists
Dr. Josh Green, Physician, Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 Liaison, Lieutenant Governor
Dr. Josh Green is a local physician, husband, and father of two.
Dr. Green was born in Kingston, New York, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and completed his medical training at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh. Upon finishing his residency, Dr. Green joined the National Health Service Corps and was stationed in Hawaii in 2000. He began his life’s work as a family and emergency room physician in rural hospitals and clinics on Hawaii island (Big Island) In 2004,
Dr. Green was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives and served until 2008. Following his time as a state representative, Dr. Green served in the Hawaii State Senate from 2008 to 2018. Dr. Green was named “Hawaii Physician of the Year” in 2009 and “Hawaii Legislator of the Year” in 2013. Currently Dr. Green serves as Hawaii’s 14th lieutenant governor and was elected in 2018. Priorities of his office include: Homelessness crisis, healthcare disparities and statewide medical staff shortage and lack of affordable housing. With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, Dr. Green was named as the state’s COVID-19 liaison and has been a leader in helping curb the spread of coronavirus in Hawaii.
Dr. Kathleen Kozak, Physician, Straub Medical Center, Host, The Body Show, Hawaii Public Radio, Medical Director, UHA Health Insurance
Dr. Kathleen Kozak is a board certified internal medicine physician in practice at Straub Medical Center since 1999.
She joined UHA as a medical director in 2016. In that role and as a member of UHA’s Physician Advisory Council, Dr. Kozak assists UHA members with access to quality health care services and works to ensure that these services are provided appropriately and consistently by working closely with UHA providers and our in-house registered nurse care specialists.
She specializes in preventive health, travel medicine, women’s health and wellness. Since 2010, she has hosted “The Body Show” on Hawaii Public Radio and has been a columnist for Civil Beat since 2014.
She is a graduate of the Medical College of Pennsylvania (now called the Drexel University College of Medicine) and did her residency at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
Jason Chang, Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer, The Queen’s Health Systems and President, The Queen’s Medical Center
Jason C. Chang was appointed President of The Queen’s Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer of The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) and The Queen’s Medical Center on December 18, 2019. Since 2015, Mr. Chang has served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of QHS and The Queen’s Medical Center. QHS is a nonprofit corporation that was established to provide expanded health care capabilities to the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Basin.
Prior to joining QHS, Mr. Chang was the Chief Executive Officer of the McAllen Heart Hospital and South Texas Health System and Universal Health Services. An accomplished healthcare executive, Mr. Chang has over fifteen years of executive leadership experience in both for-profit and non-profit healthcare sectors. His background includes hospital and health system management; ambulatory service and clinical program development; quality and service improvement; managing tertiary/quaternary services in a teaching hospital environment; clinical integration and physician network development.
Mr. Chang received his Bachelor of Science (Pre-Medicine) from Northern Arizona University and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Blood Bank of Hawaii, St. Francis Healthcare System, Vizient West Coast Network Board, and American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 9. He is also chair of the Oahu Workforce Development Board. Mr. Chang is a past National Vice President of the Japanese American Citizens League. He was recently named in Hawaii Business magazine’s “20 for the Next 20”. Mr. Chang is committed to health care and understands its importance to the needs of the community.
He takes much pride in his family and values time spent with his wife Losa, and their three children.
Mason K. Chock, Council Vice Chair, Kaua‘i County
Co-founding member and former Executive Director of Leadership Kaua‘i, Mason has worked in education and public service for 23 years.
Mason is the President of Kupu A‘e Leadership Development, a leadership experiential education company on Kaua‘i, specializing in cultural, place-based learning, adventure-based therapy, team building and leadership development. A Certified Master Facilitator of The Leadership Challenge, Certified Facilitator of The Student Leadership Challenge, Certified Everything DISC, and Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Facilitator, personal coach, leadership development consultant, and keynote speaker. He delivers customized workshops and coaching covering topics such as creating a positive work culture, Design Thinking Process, conflict resolution, building a value‑based company, strategic visioning and goal and action planning. A la‘au lapa‘au and ho‘oponopono practitioner, Mason follows the lineage of Aunty Mahilani Poepoe, Levon Ohai, and Uncle Dennis Kauahi.
Mason is also actively focused on social change and systems improvements in business, education, and government, and currently serves as the Council Vice Chair of the Kaua‘i County Council, President of the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties.
Mason is Chairman of the Kaua‘i Resiliency Project – a bold community initiative to build our young people’s ability to overcome adversity and successfully navigate life’s challenges so they can lead enriched, fulfilled and purposeful lives.
Dr. Brian Wu, Physician, Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, HMSA, Medical Director
Dr. Wu is the Medicaid medical director at HMSA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has participated in several state pandemic efforts including Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) COVID-19 Public Health and Medical Services Emergency Support Function (ESF 8) group, several state COVID-19 vaccine subcommittees, collaborations with the Hawai‘i Department of Education and Hawai‘i chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)/American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and community groups such as Hawai‘i Pandemic Applied Modeling Work Group (HiPAM).
Dr. Wu is a board certified pediatric pulmonologist who continues primarily inpatient practice at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children. He completed his pediatric residency training at the University of Hawai‘i Pediatric Residency Program and his pediatric pulmonary fellowship training at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). He also has a certificate in Advanced Training in Clinical Research from UCSF. Dr. Wu is originally from Oahu, serves as a voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Hawai‘i, and is an advisory member for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Leahi Fund Committee.
Thanks to our virtual venue sponsor HoMA, please feel free to download these complimentary Zoom backgrounds, featuring rooms and showcases from around the museum!
