Ige Names Pressler as New Hawaiʻi Health Director

Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Pressler, MD, MBA, FACS

By Maui Now Staff

Governor David Ige today announced the appointment of Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Pressler as director of the state Department of Health.

“Ginny has more than 35 years of experience in the medical field and has held administrative positions for more than two decades,” said Governor Ige in a press release announcement.

“A well-respected member of Hawaiʻi’s medical and business communities, Ginny’s wealth of knowledge and experience equips her to lead the Department of Health.”

Pressler currently serves as the executive vice president and chief strategic officer at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health.

She returns to the Department of Health after serving as deputy director for the Health Resources Administration between 1992 and 2002.

During that time, Ige said she was “instrumental in obtaining 60% of the $1.3 billion tobacco settlement fund for public health purposes” and “initiated the Tobacco Trust Fund, Healthy Hawaiʻi Initiative, Hawaiʻi Outcomes Institute and Hawaiʻi Uninsured Project.”

Pressler graduated from Cornell University with a BA Degree.  She also earned an MBA, MS in physiology, and MD from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Pressler’s appointment is still subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi Senate.