Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., MPH

Dr. Betancourt is the Dirctor of the Disparities Solutions Center, Senior Scientist of The Institute for Health Policy, Director of Multicultural Education at Mass General Hospital, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  His interests include cross-cultural medicine, minority recruitment into the health professions, and minority health and health policy research.  Dr. Betancourt works with federal, state and local govenment, foundations, health plans, hospitals, health centers, professional societies, pharmacy and private industry to identify strategies to improve quality of care and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities.

Annabel Chotzen, MPA

Annabel Chotzen is a corporate trainer and motivational speaker who has taught thousands of people from all over the world at meetings, conferences, and conventions.  Annabel has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.  She is a communications expert who works with organizations to improve their internal communication processes and customer service systems.  Annabel teaches people how to relate to and understand a diverse population.  She recently spoke to physicians at the Annual Aloha Medical Conference on optimizing communication effectiveness in the medical profession.  She has also spoken to the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Medical Technology, Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontiists, State of Hawaii Department of Health and Hawaii Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Bradley Chun, M.D.

Dr. Chun has been an internist practicing at the Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) since 2004.  He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii - John A. Burns School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine.  He sits on three committees at the Hawaii Medical Center East hospital in Honolulu, including the Ethics Committee, Medical Peer Review Committee, and the Medical Executive Board.  Dr. Chun is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Serafin "Jun" Colmenares Jr., Ph.D., MPH

Dr. Colmenares was appointed by Governor Linda Lingle on April 25, 2007 as the Executive Director of the Office of Language Access.  Dr. Colmenares holds a master's degree in public health from the University of Hawaii and a Ph.D. degree in political science form the University of Delhi (India).  An immigrant from the Philippines, Dr. Colmenares speaks several languages, is actively involved in the Filipino community, and has worked in various capacities to help other immigrants assimilate and gain access to vital services.

Laura Dixon, BS, JD, RN, CPHRM

Ms. Dixon joined The Doctors Company in 1999 after 20 years in healthcare and risk management.  She obtained her law degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and practiced law in insurance defense, including medical malpractice defense.  Her hospital experiences focused on surgical nursing, critical care and pain management.  Ms. Dixon is a recognized author and experienced speaker for risk-related topics, and has had publications in the Colorado Nurse periodical.

Dale Fryxell, Ph.D.

Dr. Fryxell is a Professor of Psychology at Chaminade University and has been awarded significant grant funding from the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services for the Malama Pono Mentoring Childrens of Prisoners Project.  His areas of interest are angry and aggressive behavior, disability issues, and prevention programs.  Dr. Fryxell is the Clinical Director for School Counseling and Marriage and Family Counseling.  He received his master's and doctoral degrees from the UH Department of Psychology's Community and Cultural Concentration program.

Bruce Gewertz, M.D., FACS

Dr. Gewertz is Surgeon-in-Chief, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Vice President for Interventional Services at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles.  Prior to 2006, he was on the faculty of the University of Chicago and served as the Dallas B. Phemister Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery for 14 years.  Dr Gewertz is the author of more than 200 original articles, book chapters and books.  His principle clinical and research interests include cerebrovascular disease (especially intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring and outcome analysis), aortic aneurysmal disease, and ischemia/reperfusion injury of the small bowel.

Jen Graf, M.A.

Ms. Graf, recently worked for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Ombuds Office.  She is now an independent contractor doing work in conflict resolution, training and research.  She has work experience in research, evaluation, cross-cultural training, school reform and community development.  Ms. Graf is also a trained mediator, and has trained others on skills in facilitation, mediation, and many other topics in conflict resolution.  She also facilitated and mediated public policy issues while at the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Hawaii State Judiciary.

David R. Griffith, MBA, CMPE

Mr. Griffith is the Administrator/CEO/Owner of Pacific Management Services, LLC.  He is responsible for the general oversight of all lines of business relating to managing and billing for healthcare clinics throughout the State of Hawaii.  Mr. Griffith is a Certified Medical Practice Executive and is presently a member of the American Association of Orthopedic Executives, the MGMA, Healthcare Billing & Management Association, and the Boy Scouts of America.  Primarily interested in the community service aspects of cross-cultural health care matters, Mr. Griffith assists with creating jobs for Hawaii's diverse and multilingual workforce via internships both in the front and back offices of medical practices.

Jerris Hedges, M.D., M.S., MMM

Dr. Hedges became Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine in March 2008, moving to Hawaii from the internationally respected Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU).  During his twenty-year career at OHSU Medical School, Dr. Hedges served as Associate Professor, Professor, and Department Chair in Emergency Medicine.  He was named Vice Dean in 2005.  Dr. Hedges helped form the OHSU Center for Policy & Research in Emergency Medicine.  Its sucess led the NIH to recognize the OHSU Department of Emergency Medicine as one of the "top ten" in the nation.  He has published more than 100 medical articles and authored several books, including Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine, which is a preferred text for those training in the demanding field of emergency medicine.

Susana Helm, Ph.D.

Dr. Helm is an Assistant Professor in the Research Division of the UH Department of Psychiatry.  In addition to a research, evaluation, and curriculum development consulting business, she was the Program Director at Na Lei Mamo, a child abuse and neglect program on Molokai, and a Behavioral Health Specialist for the Molokai School Complex of Hawaii's Department of Education.  Her focus areas are youth wellness, school interventions, substance abuse prevention, teen dating violence prevention, and rural health issues.

Martina Kamaka, M.D.

Martina Leialoha Kamaka, M.D. is a Native Hawaiian physician who received her undergraduate degree (BA) from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana and MD degree from the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii.  She is board certified in Family Practice.  Currently, Dr. Kamaka is an Associate Professor with the UH Department of Native Hawaiian Health (DNHH) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, where she is the director for the DNHH Cultural Competency Curriculum Development Project.  The project, whose primary focus is addressing Native Hawaiian Health disparities, is looking at innovative ways to teach cultural competency including the use of a variety of teaching methodologies.  She is a founding member and past president of the 'Ahahui o na Kauka (Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians).  Currently she serves on the Institutional Review Board and scientific advisory council for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems 'Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network.  Dr. Kamaka is very honored to be a founding member as well international steering committee representative on the board of the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress (PRIDoC)

Michael Kruley,

Mr. Kruley has served as Regional Manager of the Office for Civil Rights, Region IX, since April 2007.  In this position, he is the chief civil rights official for the Department's enforcement program in the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Jurisdictions.  OCR promotes and ensures that people have equal access to and opportunity to participate in and receive services from all HHS programs without facing unlawful discrimination, and that the privacy of their health information is protected while ensuring care.  Mike has worked in OCR for over 33 years, 29 of which were spent in the Region V (Chicago) office, where he was an investigator, branch chief and special assistant.  He then accepted the position of Deputy Regional Manager in Region IX, and was stationed in OCR's field office in Los Angeles.  Mike received an AB degree from University of Chicago and a JD degreee from the University of California (Berkeley) School of Law (Bloat Hall)

Lauren M. Kwak, J.D. 

Ms. Kwak is the Contracts Officer for the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine and leads the Office of Hospital and External Business Affairs.  Her duties include oversight of the malpractice and risk management program as well as contracts and leases related to the School of Medicine.  Prior to joining the School of Medicine, Ms. Kwak was the Grants & Contracts Officer for the Kaka'ako Satellite Service Center of the University's Office of Research Services.  Prior to joining the University of Hawaii, Ms. Kwak practiced in civil litigation in the State of Washington, where she was admitted to practice in 1998.  After moving back to Hawaii, Ms. Kwak became a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association in 2005 and resigned from the Washington State Bar Association in 2006.

Karen Kyeunghae Lee, MSW, LCSW

Ms. Lee is a doctoral candidate at the School of Social Work, University of Southern California.  Her research interests include studying collaboration between faith-based agencies and the community mental health system to improve mental health access and quality of care for Asian Americans with mental illness.

Jeri Leong, RN, CPC, CPC-H 

Ms. Leong is founder, President, and CEO of Healthcare Coding Consultants of Hawaii.  A registered nurse by profession, she integrates her clinical background with coding expertise to help the professional community stay informed on proper use of procedure and diagnosis codes.  She is also an instructor of medical coding with the University of Hawaii's community college and a frequent presenter for medical societies and healthcare facilities.  She is founder and past president of the Honolulu Chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and is past president of the AAPC national advisory board.

Desiree Lie, M.D., MSEd.

Dr. Lie is the Director of Research and Faculty Development, University of California Irvine (UCI), in the Department of Family Medicine.  She is responsible for directing projects in faculty development (professional development, leadership and management, team-building, cultural competency, Family Medicine training, evidence-based medicine) and grant writing around areas of strength.  Dr. Lie also holds an NIH K-award to develop and implement cultural competency curricula, working in collaboration with the consortium of 18 US medical schools with similar goals

Kawika Liu, MD, Ph.D., JD.

Dr. Liu is an internist / pediatrician working as interim director of the Office of Health Equity at the Hawaii State Department of Health, as well as Clinical Faculty at the Department of Pediatrics, and Adjunct Faculty, Office of Public Health Studies, John A. Burns School of Medicine.  Dr. Liu received his MD from St. George's University School of Medicine, his Ph.D. and JD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, MA from Columbia University, and BA from University of California at Davis.  His particular interests are human rights-based approaches to health, particularly indigenous health, the human right to health, causation in public health, cancer prevention, obesity and asthma. 

Marlene Lowe, Ph.D.

Dr. Lowe is an Assessment Specialists with UH Manoa's Assessment Office.  She has been part of Manoa's Assessment Office team since its inception in June 2008.  The Assessment Office is charged with assessing UH Manoa's Institutional and General Education student learning outcomes as well as guiding program-level assessment.  Dr. Lowe consults with faculty members on what to assess, how to assess, and how to use assessment results.  She views assessment as one of many "tools" in the toolbox of education designed to improve teaching and learning.  Dr. Lowe holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology and an M.B.A. in marketing from the Claremont Graduate University in California.

Martin Martinez, MPP

Mr. Martinez earned his Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and is a graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.  He has served on the statewide Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists, the Office of the Patient Advocate's Cultural Linguistic Services Workgroup, and other committees.  His past advocacy work has included advocating for increased program funds for communities of color, and for culturally competent care and prevention strategies for African American and Latino men, and for Gay and Bisexual men of color and Transgender individuals.

Gregory G. Maskarinec, Ph.D.

Dr. Maskarinec is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and is Director of Research of that department.  His research interests include traditional and contemporary health care systems of the Himalaya and of Micronesia.  His awards include the Birendra Pragyalankar, awarded by His Majesty, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Late King of Nepal, on the recommendation of the Nepal Royal Academy, and an honorary degree of Sansdritic Scholorship awarded by the late Yogi Naraharinath, Viswa Brhat Bauddhik Santa Sammelan, Nepal

Clifford O'Donnell, Ph.D.

Dr. O'Donnell is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and serves as the Director of the Community and Cultural Psychology Graduate Program.  He has been Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on 17 projects, and has published on topics such as delinquency prevention, school violence, firearm deaths among children and youth, cultural-community psychology, and education and employment in community psychology.  In addition, Dr. O'Donnell has provided consultation services to the United States Peace Corps in Micronesia, the Zuni Native American Tribe in New Mexico, delinquency prevention programs across the United States, and program evaluation services to schools, correctional facilities, courts, settlement house programs, drug-treatment programs, and Head Start in Hawaii.  He received the 2001 Award from the Council of Program Directors in Community Research and Action for his "Outstanding Contributions to Training and Education in Community Research and Action" and was elected President of the Society of Community Research and Action (APA Division 27) for 2004-2005.

Gerald Ohta

Gerald Ohta is the Affirmative Action Officer of the Hawaii State Department of Health.  Currently, he is the State Agency Representative and Vice-Chair of the State Language Access Advisory Council and the Department of Health Language Access Coordinator.  He brings the perspective of a government agency administrator and provider to the council as well as the view of someone who was in on the development and passage of the Hawaii language access law.  He has worked with schools, universities, enforcement agencies and public health agencies.  Mr. Ohta also bring to the council a wide range of contacts with language access advocates, organizations and agencies here and nationally.

Arthur F. Roeca

Mr. Roeca is a partner in the law firm of Roeca, Louie, & Hiraoka, LLP, a firm which concentrates in civil litigation, including the defense of healthcare providers.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and his law degree from Southwestern University.  He has lectured before the legal community, civic groups and professional organizations on numerous topic including issues pertaining to healthcare professionals and medicine in the courtroom.  Mr. Roeca has personally tried many lawsuits involving the defense of physicians.  He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association. 

Merina Sapolu, Kokua Kalihi Valley

Ms. Sapolu is the Health Education Director and a medical interpreter with the Kokua Kalihi Valley Clinic.

Monica Stitt-Bergh, Ph.D.

Dr. Stitt-Bergh is an assistant specialist at the Manoa Assessment Office, University of Hawai'i (UHM).  In this position, she serves as a consultant for and offers workshops on program-level assessment of student learning and program evaluation.  Dr. Stitt-Bergh is passionate about finding ways to improve the quality of higher education and conducts research on adult learning and cognitive development.  She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (2008) and an M.A. in English Composition and Rhetoric (1993) from UHM.  Her classroom experience includes teaching courses on writing and research methodology.  She has published articles and book chapters on writing program evaluation, self assessment, and writing-across-the-curriculum.  When not at UHM, she can be found playing volleyball or surfing.

Angela Sy, DrPH

Dr. Sy is an Assistant Professor with the UH Office of Public Health Studies.  She has a Doctor of Public Health from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and Masters of Publich Health from UH Manoa.  Angela serves as the evaluator on projects employing community based participatory research approaches to address key health issues in communities experiencing health disparities in Hawaii and the Pacific.  She teaches Program Evaluation, Community Based Participatory Research, and Needs Assessment to master and doctor of public health students at UH Office of Public Health Studies.  Angela is vice president of the Hawaii Public Health Association and president of the UH School of Public Health Alumni Association. 

Danny M. Takanishi, Jr., M.D., FACS

Dr. Takanishi is currently the Associate Professor and Chairman of Surgery for the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Program Director for the University of Hawaii General Surgery residency Program, and Director of Surgical Clinical Research at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.  A graduate of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, he completed his General Surgery Residency and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship in Hawaii, obtaining American Board of Surgery certification in both specialties.  He then completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored, Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Chicago and remained on the faculty for a number of years, serving as an Associate Program Director for the Surgical Residency Program and the Director of the Comprehensive Breast Center , prior to returning to Hawaii in 2001.  Recently, Dr. Takanishi has been appointed to the National Board of Examiners and United States Medical Licensing Examination Step II Surgery Test Development Committees and elected to the American Medical Association House of Delegates representing the State of Hawaii.

Ellen Wu, MPH

Ms. Wu is the Executive Director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), a statewide network of multicultural health organizations working together to ensure that all Californians have access to quality health care and can live healthy lives.  Ms Wu has been Executive Director of CPEHN since 2001 and during her tenure the organization has doubled in size, expanding its advocacy capacity and increasing its impact. 

Ann Maria Yamada, Ph.D.

Dr. Yamada is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, at the University of Southern California.  She completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Hawaii Manoa and completed a research fellowship in international and intercultural research at the East West Center.  Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of cultural research methodology and cultural competence.  She is especially interested in enhancing the cultural relevance of community mental health services for adults and older adults with severe mental illness and in developing services for Asian Americans and other underrepresented groups with documented disparities in mental health service use.  In 2007, Dr. Yamada received a three year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to pilot test a new intervention to give mental health providers in Psychsocial Rehabilitation Services a more effective way to assess sociocultural issues across diverse client populations.  Dr. Yamada currently chairs her school's Diversity Committee and is active in developing student learning outcomes regarding cultural competence. 

Suzanne Zeng, Ph.D.

Dr. Zeng has been teaching at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center for Interpretation and Translation Studies (CITS) for 15 years.  Her courses and research include the principles and theory of interpreting, medical and court interpreting, interpreting skills and techniques, and translation techniques.  She has conducted numerous workshops on interpreter training and on learning to work with interpreters, and has spoken at conferences on various topic dealing with translation and interpretation (T&I) training.  As a member of the Supreme Court Committee for Court Interpreting for the past eight years, she was actively involved in helping establish higher standards and certification for Hawaii State court interpreters.  She is also a Governor-appointed and State Senate-confirmed Language Access Advisory Council member for the Office of Language Access for the State of Hawaii.

STUDENT PRESENTERS

Shawn Barnes

Shawn Barnes is the co-founder of the 501c3 non-profit organization, Outbound Eye Health International.  He is a 2nd year medical student at the John A. Burnes School of Medicine, University of Hawaii.  He also holds a M.A. in archaeology from the University of Hawaii and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Samoa from 2001-2003.  His research interests include social justice and health, international eye care, and Samoan culture/history.

Jane Chung-Do, MPH

Ms. Chung-Do is a doctoral candidate at the University of Hawaii Department of Public Health Sciences.  She is also a graduate assistant at the Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Prevention Center where she serves as a co-principal investigator on a study that evaluates the impact of various school programs on risk and protective factors of youth violence.  She also coordinates school-community partnership efforts for positive youth development.  Her research interests include empowering methodologies and community-based participatory research with minority youth and women.