HRSHA Conference Provides Vital Health Workforce Connections

By Robin G. Pilus

Over 100 participants gathered at the State’s Annual Rural Health Care Conference at the Maui Beach hotel on April 5th.

Nursing Students from UH Maui make new connections at the 2011HRSHA Annual Conference.

May Akamine,  Director of the Waimanolo Health Center and Vice President of the Hawaii State Rural Health Association and conference MC, encouraged participants to ‘senselessly share and shamelessly steal’ from each other as a way to network around different programs and solutions to the rural healthcare crisis.

Kelley Withy, MD, PhD and HRSHA Board President said, “Many creative, high quality programs have been developed in Hawaii to manage the shortage of resources in Hawaii’s Healthcare community.   It was fantastic to be brought together on Maui for a dynamic opportunity to share and steal ideas and solutions.”

Topics for the seminar included health career pathways and training resources,  financial resources for health career advancement,  recruitment techniques to attract providers, telecare  and health information technology advancements, opportunities for community health care workers and information on fast-track advanced degree programs in Hawaii.

After an opening pule provided by Hau’oli (John) Tomoso, Maui  Mayor Alan Arakawa addressed the group and pledged his ongoing support for the challenge of meeting the healthcare needs in Hawaii’s rural areas.

Judy Mikami, Na Pu’uwai Molokai, was honored for her years of dedicated service to the Association and for advancing rural healthcare availability in the State.  Na Pu’uwai is a community-based  native Hawaiian Healthcare organization dedicated to the betterment of the health conditions of Native Hawaiians.

HSRHA Board of Directors

“We are pleased with the many new professional connections and friendships that were forged at this unique conference,” Withy said.  Visit Hawaii State Rural Health Association for more information.