Dr. Linda Rosen Named Department of Health Director

Dr. Linda Rosen. Photo courtesy Office of the Governor.

By Maui Now Staff

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of Dr. Linda Rosen as director of the Department of Health.  The appointment took effect immediately, but is subject to state Senate confirmation.

“Linda has more than 30 years of experience in the medical field and has held administrative positions for more than a decade,” said Gov. Abercrombie in a press release statement. “Drawing from existing leadership within the Health Department, I have full confidence that Linda will continue the significant progress realized under late Director Loretta Fuddy for the remainder of her term.”

The appointment comes following the unexpected death of former Health Director Loretta Fuddy who was a passenger aboard an airplane that crashed off of Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013.

It also comes as the state deals with a measles case reported last week involving an Oʻahu infant who contracted the disease while in the Philippines.

According to information released by the Governor, Dr. Rosen is a graduate of Punahou School, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“Dr. Rosen is a pediatrician by training, working in the emergency and critical care and neonatology departments at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children from 1985 to 2000. She has also been a faculty member of the John A. Burns School of Medicine since 1987, as assistant and associate professor of pediatrics, and is currently an associate clinical professor of pediatrics and surgery,” the announcement said.

According to the Governor, Dr. Rosen has been with the state Department of Health since 2000, and served as medical director of the Family Health Services Division and Pediatric Emergency Services, deputy director for Health Resources Administration and, most recently, chief of the Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch.